Published on: 2 Jun 2025

Author: Kristina Fong Siew Leng

Given differing levels of digital capabilities among ASEAN members, a two-tier solution to the Digital Economy Framework Agreement might be most fitting.

The Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) negotiations were launched in September 2023, a ground-breaking initiative to better integrate the digital economies of the 10 ASEAN countries to boost digital economy prospects and growth. Negotiations were touted to conclude by the end of 2025 but progress has been slower than anticipated. As such, expectations are for the DEFA to reach a slightly less ambitious, substantial conclusion by the end of this year as opposed to a definitive one.

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