Geopolitical tensions, driven by policy shifts in major economies, have increased uncertainty and contributed to widespread disruptions in global supply chains. The introduction of higher tariffs and evolving trade policies have placed additional cost pressures on trade across Asia and the Pacific, eroding some of the competitiveness gains that the region has achieved over recent years.

The 2025 Report on the United Nations Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in ASEAN highlights the substantial and continuing progress made by the ten ASEAN Member States in adopting a comprehensive range of trade facilitation measures that go beyond the requirements of the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA). Notably, the Survey indicates that ASEAN achieved an impressive average subregional implementation rate of 83% in 2025 (up from 79% in 2023) across a core set of 31 general and digital trade facilitation measures, significantly surpassing the Asia-Pacific regional average of 70%.