Indonesia Could Set ASEAN Example for Strategic Trade Management: U.S. Envoy

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia could strengthen regional trade security and build greater confidence among international trading partners by becoming a role model for Strategic Trade Management (STM) in Southeast Asia.

US Chargé d'Affaires to ASEAN Thao Anh Tran said Indonesia, as Southeast Asia's largest economy and one of the major players in global trade, could set an example for other countries in developing STM.

"That influence brings an obligation for Indonesia to become an example for other Southeast Asian countries in developing STM, by applying strict standards of security, transparency and cooperation at the global level," Thao Anh Tran said during the 5th Annual Southeast Asia Forum on Export Controls (SEAFEC) in Jakarta on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

STM is an international trade governance framework designed to ensure that strategic goods and technologies with potential commercial and military dual-use are not misused to support activities that could threaten national or international security.

The implementation of STM is in line with Indonesia's commitment under the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade with the United States, signed by President Prabowo Subianto and US President Donald Trump in February 2026.

Thao said global supply chains have become increasingly complex, creating more opportunities for the misuse of technologies that can have both commercial and military applications.

She said such risks can no longer be addressed through individual approaches by each country but require integrated and coordinated cooperation at the regional level.

The US side also welcomed the Philippines' initiative as this year's ASEAN chair to include the ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on STM among its priority economic outcomes at the ASEAN Summit in November.

"A regional approach will not only improve security but also build greater trust and confidence among trading partners, creating a more predictable and secure environment for economic growth and innovation," Thao said. ***