Jakarta, 4 June 2025: In a time of growing economic uncertainty and rising geopolitical tensions, the reaffirmation of open, rules-based trade is more important than ever. To mark the recent upgrade of the ASEAN–Australia–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), ERIA, in partnership with the Australian Mission to ASEAN, hosted a public dialogue in Jakarta titled ’Seizing the Opportunity: Benefitting from the AANZFTA Upgrade.’

The event focused on how the upgraded agreement – which came into force on 21 April 2025 – can drive economic growth through digital trade, job creation, and sustainable development, even as protectionism and tariff tensions, such as the recent U.S. Reciprocal Tariffs, challenge global trade norms.

In his opening remarks, ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe lauded the upgrade as ‘the most forward-looking and high-quality FTA signed by ASEAN,’ praising its potential to create new opportunities in the face of adversity. He emphasised that the deal reflects a strong collective commitment to open and inclusive trade by ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand.

President Watanabe was joined by H.E. Dr Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, and H.E. Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri, Indonesia’s Vice Minister of Trade, both of whom echoed support for deepening regional integration through the upgraded agreement.

A panel discussion, moderated by Christopher Langman, ERIA Governing Board Member for Australia and Chair of AusPECC, brought together high-level stakeholders:

• H.E. Tiffany McDonald, Australian Ambassador to ASEAN
• Rifki Weno, Executive Director, ASEAN Business Advisory Council
• Dr Ahmad Zafarullah Abdul Jalil, Director, ASEAN Integration Monitoring Directorate, ASEAN Secretariat
• Anna Robeniol, Senior Policy Fellow, ERIA

The dialogue highlighted how the AANZFTA upgrade responds to emerging regional priorities and provides tangible benefits for all parties. A key feature is enhanced support for SMEs via the AANZFTA Implementation Support Programme (AISP) and the Economic Cooperation Work Plan (ECWP). The speakers also underscored the need for:

• Robust monitoring mechanisms to improve FTA utilisation
• Greater alignment with other ASEAN agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
• Reform of non-tariff barriers to unlock greater trade potential

In closing remarks, Ben Collins, Deputy Head of Mission of New Zealand to ASEAN, emphasised the timeliness of the upgrade, calling ASEAN New Zealand’s most important trading partner as a bloc. He expressed optimism that stronger cooperation would help navigate global headwinds.

Ambassador McDonald reiterated the need for a free, rules-based trade system, and stressed the opportunity to reshape trade by addressing non-tariff barriers and advancing inclusive, sustainable regional growth.

Jeremy Gross, ERIA Director of Mekong Affairs and Capacity Building, moderated the event.