The EU is currently negotiating bilateral free trade agreements with Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Successful agreements would reduce trade barriers, improve market access for European goods, services and in public procurement, make data transfers more agile, and strengthen intellectual property rights – all within one of the most dynamic economic regions in the world (Southeast Asia).

The industrial policy potential and the central requirements for the negotiations have been summarized by the BDI in a position paper. At the same time, it includes an analysis of the recently concluded free trade agreement between the EU and Indonesia