As a region which trades heavily with the European Union, the bloc’s planned Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is likely to have deep and meaningful effects on ASEAN economies. Beyond this, and as carbon pricing instruments proliferate, an increasing number of countries are likely to follow the EU’s lead in implementing carbon border taxes in order to protect the competitiveness of local industries against competitors whose products originate from jurisdictions without domestic carbon pricing legislation, and to prevent carbon leakage. Border adjustment taxes can also spur countries towards enacting their own domestic carbon pricing instruments and in doing so, can be a tool towards the export of climate ambition. Serious consideration must be placed on how ASEAN economies respond to this changing climate policy landscape.

This discussion aims to unpack the EU’s proposed CBAM; consider the role of carbon border taxes in international climate policy responses; and overviews the economic and strategic implications of these instruments on Southeast Asian economies and the EU-ASEAN relationship.

 This discussion will feature commentaries from Dr Michael R. DiGregorio and Mr Darshan Joshi of The Asia Foundation; Dr Venkatachalam Anbumozhi of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA); and Ms Melinda Martinus of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies–Yusof Ishak Institute (ISEAS).

• Date: Friday, 9 September 2022
• Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Singapore/GMT+8)
• Venue: Webinar (Zoom)

Register Here