Facilitating Digital Trade in ASEAN and East Asia

This book examines the main viewpoints and arguments on key issues that are currently under debate globally, on digital trade governance. This includes international trade and investment facilitation, cross-border data flow and storage, privacy protection, consumer protection, competition, taxation, and trade-related cybersecurity. From the perspective of ASEAN and East Asia, the book explores the possibility and feasibility of (i) setting new global norms that could narrow/fill the existing gaps among stakeholders and be widely accepted and implemented; and (ii) whether and how ASEAN and East Asian countries can find regional solutions, based on the common interests among member states, to collaborate in region-wide rule settings. Containing 14 chapters, the book is a valuable resource to researchers, policy-makers, and students.

Lurong Chen is Senior Economist of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). He received his Ph.D. in International Economics from the Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva. Lurong’s expertise is in the digital economy, global value chains, regional economic integration, and Asian regionalism. He provides consultation on policy issues related to digital transformation, FTA negotiations, and Asian regional integration.

Fukunari Kimura is president of IDE-JETRO and Senior Professor, Keio University. He obtained his PhD in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. His research interests include international trade and development, economic growth, applied microeconomics, and Japanese and Asian economies. Prof Kimura was the chief economist at ERIA (2008-2025), president of the Japan Society of International Economics (2010-2012) and dean of the Graduate School of Economics, Keio University (2015-2017). He advises governments and international organizations on trade policy and development issues.

Michitaka Nakatomi is Consulting Fellow of Research institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI) and Special Advisor to Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). He received his degree in Law from the University of Tokyo. Previously, he was the Principal Trade Negotiator of METI, the President of JETRO, and Director-General for International Trade Policy. His expertise covers international economy, trade law, investment policy, technology policy, digital economy, global value chains, and industrial policy.