Economic ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Friday called for urgent de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, warning that prolonged conflict could ripple across global energy markets and threaten Southeast Asia’s fragile economic recovery.
The Philippines is seeking to join the US-led Pax Silica Initiative while exploring a critical minerals partnership with Canada, as Manila steps up efforts to position itself in emerging supply chains tied to artificial intelligence, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing.
The Philippines on Friday urged fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to reinforce policy stability and cooperation across the region, warning that rising geopolitical tensions are increasingly shaping investment flows and economic confidence.
The Philippines is seeking to fast-track a bilateral free trade agreement with Canada, aiming to clinch a deal even as broader negotiations between Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations move forward. Officials say an early deal could position the country as a strategic bridge linking North American supply chains with Southeast Asia’s expanding trade network.
The Philippines is closely watching a new US trade investigation that could reshape manufacturing supply chains and complicate trade flows across Southeast Asia.