KUCHING: Asean should remain focused on its economic agenda and not let political issues cloud its vision of integration.
In view of rising protectionism globally, this was one of the key themes that emerged during a roundtable titled, “Lessons learned from Brexit: risks and opportunities for ASEAN?” which was organised by CIMB Asean Research Institute (CARI) on Thursday in collaboration with the Asean Business Club.
Tan Sri Dr Munir Majid,chairman of CARI, chaired the roundtable while speakers were British High Commissioner to Malaysia Victoria Treadell; Institute of Strategic and International Studies deputy chief executive Dato’ Steven CM Wong; and Trowers & Hamlins Kuala Lumpur partner Nick White.
During the discussion, Treadell reiterated UK’s commitment to free trade and establishing robust economic ties with not only the European Union (EU), but also with other regions such as Asean.
“The UK will continue to be more outward looking than before. Britain sees the Asean Economic Community (AEC) as an important destination for its goods and services and a source of investment, half of all Asean investment into Europe goes to the UK.
“Measuring trade and investment with Asean is of economic interest to both the UK and Asean,” she said, adding that between 2008 and 2013, half of the investment from Asean to Europe went to the UK, with the figure growing by 150 per cent to 28 billion pounds.
Munir however warned it would be too easy a conclusion to draw that the lesson from Brexit was that Asean should not be too aggressive in its integration process.
“On the contrary, against what Asean has promised with the AEC, its non-fulfillment would be a blow to businesses which would begin to have less faith in the economic, and other, integration processes. Asean’s plan of action, including and particularly assistance to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), must be carried out.
“If MSMEs fail, the Asean economy will fail, and its integration process will be rolled back as individual economies seek to protect jobs.”
Since the UK Prime Minister Theresa May officially invoked Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty on 29 March, the country will have to enact its own legislation and trade policies for the first time in 40 years. This legislation will have to be in place by 2019 when the UK officially leaves the EU.
White of Trowers & Hamlins advised businesses to keep track of red-headline issues during UK’s Brexit negotiation with the EU, and not to jump at every twist in the negotiations.
Although maybe not many in number, Asean businesses that “passport” from the UK into Europe, and vice versa, will need to assess the new position carefully.
“Businesses that adhere to standards in any industry will have to observe any future variations in those standards between the UK and the EU,” said White.
Echoing this view, Wong called for pragmatism, “Brexit poses both challenges and opportunities. With multiple unknowns, the future is yet to be cast in stone. The need today is not for dogmatism but pragmatism, agility and fleet-footedness.”
Just on Tuesday, the UK Prime Minister announced the general elections will be held on June 8, 2017 instead of 2020 to seek a clear mandate on Brexit.