Kuala lumpur: The formal dialogue between ASEAN and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) scheduled on Nov 20, 2025, must go beyond symbolic engagement and deliver substantive outcomes.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, leading economists and policymakers emphasize that concrete reforms, including standard convergence, supply chain resilience, and micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) capacity building, are vital if ASEAN is to remain central in a rapidly fragmenting global trade order. Tan Sri Dr Munir Majid, the chairman of CARI ASEAN Research and Advocacy think tank, described the ASEAN-CPTPP dialogue as an excellent move, but cautioned that it must lead to serious, actionable outcomes rather than more high-level rhetoric.
Dr Munir highlighted the need for convergence of standards, such as rules of origin, to facilitate trade across the wider platform. He also suggested expanding the overlap of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)-CPTPP membership and attracting the European Union (EU) to join the expanded trade and investment platform. Munir, who is also the ASEAN Business Club president, said the upcoming ASEAN-CPTPP dialogue should be viewed as a major test of ASEAN centrality amid an increasingly unstable global order. He further recommended the appointment of a dedicated task force by ASEAN leaders to ensure that the objectives are pursued seriously, beyond the limitations of the rotating ASEAN chairmanship.
Sunway University economics professor Dr Yeah Kim Leng noted that Malaysia stands to gain significantly from deeper CPTPP collaboration, particularly in sectors such as electrical and electronics, chemicals, medical devices, and machinery. Efforts to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers among CPTPP members will boost demand for Malaysia’s exports, which is particularly important under the current global environment of heightened uncertainties and geopolitical tensions. Dr Yeah also pointed out that Malaysia’s participation in multiple trade blocs, namely the CPTPP, the RCEP, and the upcoming Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), would give it a competitive edge to serve as a regional hub.
Meanwhile, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd’s chief economist, Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, indicated that the CPTPP could act as a catalyst for Malaysian businesses, especially MSMEs, to scale up, but only if real investment is made in capacity building. With MSMEs making up 96 percent of businesses in the country, he stressed that financial literacy, digital savviness, and business planning must become core skills. A targeted outreach program to help businesses understand and utilize the preferential treatment under the CPTPP is also important for accessing new markets and procuring raw materials more cost-effectively.
The ASEAN-CPTPP dialogue is set to bring together ASEAN’s 10 member states and the 12 members of the CPTPP, including four overlapping countries: Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Brunei. During a discussion among ministers at the 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) meeting last week, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz stated that ASEAN and CPTPP will hold a formal dialogue on Nov 20 to explore potential areas of collaboration. He mentioned that the dialogue will cover some potential areas of collaboration and cooperation.