Intra-ASEAN Trade WTO Rules Compared

Summary of the ACSS14 Joint Media Statement

The Fourteenth Session of the ASEAN Community Statistical System Committee (ACSS14) was held in Vientiane, Lao PDR, from 26 to 28 November 2024. The session focused on strengthening data integration to advance regional connectivity and resilience, aligning with Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship theme for 2024. Key deliverables included continued work on providing relevant, timely, and comparable statistics for SDG indicators, national accounts, foreign direct investment, and trade statistics. The session also emphasized capacity building through the ASEAN-Help-ASEAN Framework and the development of a virtual academy. Additionally, the committee highlighted the importance of data governance and quality, and strategic planning aligned with ASEAN’s post-2025 strategic plans.

Comparison with the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Key Themes:

Regional Integration and Connectivity
Capacity Building and Cooperation
Standardization and Harmonization
Data Governance and Quality
Strategic Planning and Alignment

Contrast:

Scope: ACSS focuses on regional statistical cooperation within ASEAN, while WTO operates on a global scale.
Objectives: ACSS aims to provide comparable statistics for policy-making, whereas WTO facilitates international trade and fair trade practices.
Tools and Mechanisms: ACSS uses statistical frameworks and capacity-building programs, while WTO uses trade agreements and dispute resolution mechanisms.
Focus Areas: ACSS concentrates on economic and social statistics, while WTO focuses on trade policies and regulations.

Both organizations enhance connectivity and resilience but through different mechanisms and contexts. The ACSS's work on data integration can support the WTO's objectives by providing reliable data for trade analysis within ASEAN.

ACSS Committee Members

Name	Country
Mr. Bahrum Kadun	BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
Mr. Keo Chettra	KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA
Dr. Ahmad Zafarullah Abdul Jalil	ASEAN SECRETARIAT

Date

28 November 2024