News Updates

Yes, there are political refugees from the European Union

THE LIGHTS ARE GOING OUT ACROSS EUROPE

By Anna Wellisz, The Washington Times, Nov 7, 2025 – As President Trump hosts Viktor Orbán this week, the European Union is threatening to suspend Hungary’s voting rights in the EU. In just the last few months, we have seen the most popular politician banned and imprisoned in France, the presidential election annulled and the all-but-certain winner canceled in Romania, the largest opposition party in Germany about to be delegalized, and, across the channel, in the UK, thousands of ordinary citizens arrested for social media posts and even silent prayers.Nowhere, however, has this anti-democratic assault been as systematic and severe as in Poland, America’s staunchest ally on the continent, where, in December 2023, Donald Tusk’s left-wing coalition, allied with Brussels, unseated the conservative Law and Justice party after eight years in power….

EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION:

EAEU drug regulatory harmonization faces critical deadline as member states show uneven implementation readiness

‘VERY MUCH LIKE THE EUROPEAN MUTUAL RECOGNITION PROCEDURE’

The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is racing against time to implement its pharmaceutical regulatory harmonization system by December 31, 2025. Victoria Ignatovich, director of CIS countries Regulatory Affairs Office at World Medicine, a pharmaceutical exporter based in İlaç, Turkey, told the Global Regulatory Affairs Summit audience that the goal is to unify the five separate processes of the EAEU countries, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.

NORTH AMERICA:

Ahead of USMCA Review, Mexico Sustains a Unified Tourism Position

‘CONSOLIDATE ITS STRATEGIC POSITION WITHIN NORTH AMERICA’

Yucatan Times, Nov 7, 2025 – “From the Ministry of Tourism, we reaffirm our commitment to a more competitive, sustainable, and inclusive tourism model, in full alignment with the goals of the USMCA. This effort adds to the actions promoted by the Mexican government to make tourism a true generator of Shared Prosperity, as instructed by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.”

Automakers urge US to extend North America free trade deal

FORD: TARIFFS ‘SHOULD ONLY APPLY TO COUNTRIES OUTSIDE OF NORTH AMERICA’

Reuters, Nov 5, 2025 – [Tesla] recommended the three countries adopt an industry-accepted North American Charging Standard as the single standard for electric light-duty vehicle trade and align automotive safety standards.
Ford said after an improved USMCA is in place, all national security tariffs “should only apply to countries outside of North America to preserve the effectiveness of USMCA and the competitiveness of the North American auto industry.”

What could be the outcome of next year’s USMCA review?

DEEPER INTEGRATION WITH TARIFF ALIGNMENT, OR STATUS QUO

Investing.com, Nov 2, 2025 – Writing in a note to clients, analysts at Morgan Stanley including Ariana Salvatore and Michael Zezas…. argued that the USMCA review will likely bring some clarity to two major issues surrounding future supply chains into the U.S.: the status of manufacturing borders and tariff levels….
Mexico, which like Canada has been engaged in trade talks with the Trump administration, has especially taken steps to help the U.S. establish tariff borders…
However, the brokerage added, even if Mexico aligns fully with the U.S., data suggests that “it will still be hard to deviate supply chains away” from China, a global production hub.

SE ASIA:

ASEAN must rethink its supply chain, strengthen regional economic integration

‘COMMON EXTERNAL TARIFFS FOR SECTORS THAT MATTER TO US’

BERNAMA TV (Malaysia), Nov 6, 2025 – Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation former executive director, Tan Sri Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria…. said ASEAN should consider introducing a common external tariff in selected sectors as a step toward deeper integration.
“Have common external tariffs for sectors that matter to us, whether it’s textiles or electrical and electronics (E&E),” she said.

EU’S DIGITAL EURO:

Is the digital euro Europe’s answer to a cashless future?

OneSafe, Oct 31, 2025 – The European Central Bank (ECB) is gearing up to introduce the digital euro, a move that could revolutionize the realm of digital payments across Europe. What does this central bank digital currency (CBDC) mean for the economy?….
How Will the Digital Euro Impact Privacy?
This strategy seeks to safeguard user privacy while ensuring adherence to necessary regulations. Nonetheless, increased traceability of transactions raises fears of mass surveillance and data exploitation, which could deter potential users….
What Can Other Regions Learn from the Digital Euro?
Other regions can also learn from the ECB’s measured and cautious implementation strategy, which prioritizes stakeholder engagement and gradual rollout to tackle technical, legal, and financial obstacles…. As the ECB navigates the challenges and opportunities arising from this initiative, it holds the potential to influence the future of money not only in Europe but also on a global scale.

Pakistan, China firms form joint consortium to develop regional logistics hub

PARTNERSHIP TO STRENGTHEN TRADE CONNECTIVITY UNDER CHINA-PAKISTAN FRAMEWORK

Pakistan Today, Oct 31, 2025 – Leading logistics and business companies from Pakistan and China have agreed to establish a China–Pakistan Joint Business Consortium to develop a regional logistics hub aimed at improving regional connectivity and trade logistics frameworks.

ASEAN’s dealmaking with Trump shows promise

COULD BE MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO CRITICAL MINERAL GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN DIVERSIFICATION

Lowry Institute, Oct 29, 2025 – The inclusion of critical mineral collaboration announcements with Cambodia, Malaysia, and Thailand demonstrates ASEAN does have cards to play with Trump….
Despite China’s limited backdown from its expansive rare earth control regime, critical mineral exposure to China will remain an ongoing strategic risk for the United States. ASEAN could therefore capitalise on its potential to be a “major contributor” to global supply chain diversification for critical minerals to strengthen its hand in trade negotiations.

US aluminium industry urges USMCA tariff harmonization

SUPPORTS ALIGNMENT OF ALUMINUM TARIFFS AMONG NORTH AMERICAN NATIONS

TO ‘CREATE A FORTRESS AGAINST UNFAIRLY TRADED METAL’
Fastmarkets, Oct 28, 2025 – The Aluminum Association supports a harmonized North American trade deal “that aligns aluminium tariffs” among the US, Canada and Mexico “while strengthening monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to stop transshipped metal.”
“If the US has a certain tariff against unfairly traded metal from China or Russia, then we think Canada and Mexico should have a similar set of tariffs,” Meenan told Fastmarkets on October 8.
“Let’s make sure that our trading partners are doing the same thing so that we can create a fortress against unfairly traded metal,” Meenan said.

China and ASEAN, hit by US tariffs, sign upgraded free trade pact

Reuters, Oct 28, 2025 – China and the ASEAN bloc of Southeast Asian nations signed an upgrade to their free trade agreement on Tuesday, with leaders hailing the deal which spans the digital and green economy, and other new industries.
The 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations is China’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade totalling $771 billion last year, according to ASEAN statistics.
China is seeking to intensify its engagement with ASEAN, a region with a collective gross domestic product of $3.8 trillion, to counter hefty import tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration on countries around the world.

INTRA-REGIONAL TRADE DEALS:

Russia eyes Southeast Asian markets for economic boost as oil sanctions bite

‘BETWEEN REGIONS AND ORGANISATIONS LIKE THE EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION AND ASEAN’

SANCTIONS FORCE MOSCOW TO LOOK FOR NEW MARKETS AND BUYERS
South China Morning Post, Oct 28, 2025 – “Sanctions are like the climate – they’ve always existed. [But] we maintain and improve trade and economic relations, [and] we work to strengthen connectivity between regions and organisations like the Eurasian Economic Union and Asean.”
The Eurasian Economic Union is a Russia-led trade bloc that also includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, aimed at creating a single market across parts of the former Soviet Union.
Russia’s push into Southeast Asia comes just days after Washington under President Donald Trump announced a new wave of sanctions….
The move has forced Moscow to look for new markets and buyers across the Global South….

For ASEAN Members, Trump’s Bilateral Trade Deals May Be the Least-Worst Option

DEALS BUY TIME TO DIVERSIFY TRADING RELATIONSHIPS AWAY FROM US

Carnegie Endowment, Oct 27, 2025 – On Sunday, as leaders gathered in Kuala Lumpur for the ASEAN summit, U.S. President Donald Trump announced trade deals with Malaysia and Cambodia, as well as framework agreements with Vietnam and Thailand that will be finalized in the coming weeks….
The U.S. commitment to maintain Malaysian and Cambodian tariffs at 19 percent will provide them at least some temporary relief. They believe the agreements will allow them to avoid immediate economic stress while creating opportunities for cooperation. One such area is critical minerals, a sector Malaysia and Thailand seek to develop, and on which they signed memorandums of understanding with the United States. Moreover, the deals buy them time to diversify their trading relationships away from the United States, as many Asian countries are urgently seeking to do.

AI in Global Governance

Expect regulation to mature from national frameworks to international system

UN, REGIONAL BLOCS RACING TO DEFINE AI RULES

Blockchain Council, Oct 17, 2025 – Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s a global reality shaping economies, politics, and even diplomacy. But who decides how AI should be used responsibly? That’s where AI in global governance comes in. In simple terms, it’s the worldwide effort to create fair, safe, and transparent rules for how AI systems are developed, deployed, and monitored. From the United Nations to regional blocs like the European Union and the African Union, global players are now racing to define those rules….
By 2026, we can expect AI regulation to mature from a series of national frameworks into a coordinated international system….
Trust means ensuring countries and companies disclose how AI models are built and tested. Interoperability means that safety and ethics checks are comparable across borders. Without these two factors, global governance will remain uneven. The United Nations, the G7, and regional blocs like the EU and AU are already collaborating to close that gap.

AI AND MIDDLE EAST: INSIGHTS FROM MED DIALOGUES 2025

Competition over semiconductors, data centers, energy infrastructure:

The Peninsula, Oct 21, 2025 – Mohamed Suleiman, and Director of the Consultation Department in Saudi Arabia Faisal Al-Otaibi….described the global AI race as a competition over compute capacity—the combination of semiconductors, data centers, and energy infrastructure needed to power artificial intelligence systems….
“This region can become the third major theater for AI—an energy and capital hub that complements the U.S. and China,” he said.

ASEAN FIRMS CAN’T AFFORD TO IGNORE EU’S AI ACT

Turn compliance into source of competitiveness

Jakarta Post, Oct 17, 2025 – Exporters of smart electronics, automotive parts, healthcare diagnostics or AI-driven services across Asia will soon face strict European rules.
Enforcement begins in 2025, phasing in through 2027, and can impose penalties worth up to 7 percent of a firm’s global turnover. The question for ASEAN firms is therefore not whether these rules will matter, but rather how quickly will firms can turn their compliance into a source of competitiveness.

ASEAN – REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Power grid offers a real shot at ASEAN integration

Asia Times, Oct 20, 2025 – In an era when ASEAN’s unity is often described more as symbolism than substance, the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) stands out as an ambitious vision that could finally bring tangible integration to Southeast Asia….
Some links, such as the Laos–Thailand–Malaysia–Singapore Power Integration Project (LTMS-PIP), are already operational, allowing power generated from Laos to reach Singapore via Thailand and Malaysia….
APG could become ASEAN’s defining project of the next decade, not merely for its engineering feat, but for its political symbolism. For the first time, ASEAN could be bound by a network that is real, visible and indispensable.

ARAB GULF – GCC:

GCC capital market regulators push for deeper integration

Kuwait Times, Oct 20, 2025 – Capital market authorities in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states on Monday underscored the need to advance financial integration and harmonize regulatory and legislative frameworks across the region.

IMF Reports Limited Global Response to U.S. Tariffs, Highlights Potential for Regional Integration and China’s Economic Prospects

ScanX, Oct 16, 2025 – The IMF chief also noted an increase in regional trade integration. This trend suggests that countries may be focusing on strengthening economic ties within their geographical regions, possibly as a strategy to mitigate the impact of broader global trade tensions.

ADB, World Bank launch Asean Power Grid financing programme, report says

Reuters, Oct 15, 2025 – The Asian Development Bank and the World Bank have launched the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) Financing Initiative to support the development and integration of national power grids across the region, Malaysian state news agency Bernama reported on Wednesday.
The ADB is set to commit $10 billion to finance Southeast Asian grids connected to the APG, along with other clean energy projects, the report said

Eurasian Economic Union planning operational changes

TO MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLE EUROPEAN UNION

Intellinews, Oct 14, 2025 – The changes are designed to make the bloc’s decision-making mechanism more closely resemble that of the European Union.
Once adopted, the amendments will expand the EEU Commission’s authority to regulate trade within its common market and interpret the organisation’s rules….
The EEU presently comprises Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

NORTH AMERICA:
REGIONAL PROTECTIONISM

How to Update the USMCA

MEXICO’S HARMONIZED TARIFF POLICY FRAMED AS NORTH AMERICAN ‘ECONOMIC ALIGNMENT’

The National Interest, September 29, 2025 – Mexico is signaling a willingness to deepen integration with the United States and anchor its economy within North America’s supply chains. This is welcome news for Washington. While some might view this decision as mere protectionism, the leaders of Mexico and the United States are framing it as an economic alignment….The Mexican government has proposed a comprehensive package of higher import levies—covering over 1,400 tariff lines, including apparel, textiles, and footwear—from countries with which Mexico does not have a free-trade agreement. The People’s Republic of China, here, is the main target. Key moves include raising the tariff on passenger vehicles and many auto parts from approximately 20 to 50 percent (the WTO ceiling), as well as new and raised duties of roughly 10–50 percent across other products and categories….Increased transparency and harmonized standards across borders are the minimum requirements that should be met for the next chapter of the USMCA. 

See also: BESSENT: ‘IF THE CANADIANS DID IT ALSO…WE COULD HAVE FORTRESS NORTH AMERICA’  FROM CHINESE IMPORTS – Reuters, Feb 28, 2025

Mexico Joins US Effort to Build Tariff Wall Against China

Mexico Business News, Oct 2, 2025 – On Sept. 9, as part of the 2026 federal budget proposal, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum submitted a budget proposal that would impose additional tariffs (ranging from 10% to 50%) on over 1,400 HTS codes affecting products in the automotive, steel, textiles/apparel, shoes/footwear, electronics, plastics, toys, and home appliances industries, targeting imports from countries that don’t have a Trade Agreement with Mexico.
Many say the main target is China (which will be affected the most) as the United States has been pressuring Mexico to present a united front against China. This is taking place amid the preparation for the review of the North American Trade Agreement….

From tariffs to transformation: Why this is the moment for ASEAN to forge strategic autonomy

ASEAN’S CROSSROADS: REMAIN A LOOSE ASSOCIATION OR TRANSFORM INTO INTEGRATED BLOC

‘ASEAN’S EFFORTS CAN SET A PRECEDENT FOR HOW OTHER REGIONAL BLOCS PRESERVE AUTONOMY IN A MULTIPOLAR ERA.’
World Economic Forum, Sep 29, 2025 – The US tariffs announced on 2 April were effective precisely because they exploited ASEAN’s structural weaknesses. Unlike the European Union’s supranational authority, ASEAN operates on consensus and non-interference, principles that slow decision-making and prioritize national over regional interests….The tariff crisis has revealed both ASEAN’s vulnerabilities and its possibilities. Under Malaysia’s chairmanship, ASEAN stands at a crossroads: Remain a loose association vulnerable to external shocks, or transform into an integrated bloc capable of shaping its own destiny….The lesson extends beyond South-East Asia. Regional blocs from the African Union to Mercosur face similar dilemmas. By embedding digital trade frameworks, interoperable financial systems and collective mechanisms, ASEAN can set a precedent for how regions preserve autonomy in a multipolar era…. Its ability to turn crisis into catalyst will determine whether this moment becomes a turning point – not just for South-East Asia, but for regional cooperation worldwide.

Africa must strengthen continental unity to boost its global influence

‘STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT’:  ‘HARMONIZE TARIFFS, STREAMLINE CUSTOMER PROCEDURES AND INVEST IN CROSS-BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE’

Chatham House, Sep 30, 2025 – The 2023 accession of the AU to permanent membership of the G20 was a crucial breakthrough. Africa, at long last, is represented as a bloc in the premier forum for economic cooperation, alongside the European Union (EU). This moment reflects a growing consensus that the continent can no longer be sidelined. It also coincides with more African nationals taking up leadership positions in key global institutions, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Health Organization (WHO).
African states often negotiate as individual actors rather than as a bloc within international organizations such as the WTO and the UN system – limiting the ability to mobilize Africa’s collective weight on key issues. Without a shared understanding that local and regional actions should reinforce, rather than fragment, collective positions, Africa risks weakening its own leverage….
Trade is a clear example: the AfCFTA can only succeed if governments harmonize tariffs, streamline customs procedures and invest in cross-border infrastructure. In defence, national investments in military capacity should be aligned with continental frameworks such as the African Standby Force

Opinion: How Trump’s trade war fast-tracked the EU–Mercosur agreement

Brussels Times, Sep 23, 2025 – Game Theory suggests that when one player (the US) systematically adopts an aggressive strategy, the others (EU and Brazil) may converge towards cooperation with each other in order to counterbalance the power of the challenger. Robert Axelrod, in The Evolution of Cooperation (1984), shows that cooperation among those harmed, in repeated interaction scenarios, tends to emerge as a rational strategy, where the gains from cooperation are greater than the costs of isolation.
It is precisely at this point that the EU (responsible for the common trade policy of its 27 member states) and Mercosur (responsible for the trade policy of its signatories, with Brazil accounting for over 70% of the bloc’s economy) need to accelerate the ratification and implementation of the EU–Mercosur Agreement signed in December 2024.

Is the Middle East about to get an ‘Islamic NATO’?

Deutsche Welle, Sep 25, 2025 – Israel’s first-ever attack on a Gulf state is causing changes in Arab defense policies, with more calls for regional cooperation and common defense pacts. Some politicians have even called for an “Islamic NATO.”….
At an emergency summit organized by the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation last week, Egyptian officials suggested a NATO-style, joint task force for Arab nations. In a speech at the summit, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also called for a collective approach to regional security. And the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — said they would activate a provision in a joint defense agreement, first signed in 2000, that said an attack on one member state was an attack on all.

HOW A NEW ARAB REGIONAL ORDER IS TAKING SHAPE

The National Interest, Sep 25, 2025 – The Assad regime was also a feature of the landscape in the region for 50 years. Now, like Saddam Hussein, Muammar Gaddafi, and other twentieth-century dictatorial holdovers, it has collapsed for good.
These winds of change have not only empowered Syria. They have also empowered the new leadership in Lebanon. Additionally, Egypt has conducted new outreach efforts. It has completed a naval drill with Turkey, marking a significant step in repairing two decades of strained relations. It is also pushing for peace in Gaza. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has signed a new defense treaty with Pakistan.
A similar trend can be observed in the Gulf Cooperation Council. After an Israeli airstrike on a Hamas meeting in Qatar in September, the Gulf countries expressed a desire to increase defense cooperation.

ASEAN deepens internal, external ties to weather US tariff headwinds

Nikkei Asia, Sep 26, 2025 – South Asian countries are deepening their internal and external economic ties as the region braces for the impact of U.S. tariffs and global supply chain realignments, with ministers advancing key trade agreements and digital initiatives during a series of meetings in Malaysia this week.

United States to seal Southeast Asia trade trade deals in coming months

BLOC’S MEMBER NATIONS MAY TAKE UNIFIED POSITION ON SECTORAL TARIFF NEGOTIATIONS
Reuters, Sep 24, 2025 – Wednesday marked [U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer’s] first meeting with the ASEAN bloc, whose members have largely engaged in separate negotiations with the United States on the issue of tariffs.
But the grouping may be driven to take a more unified position amid risks of steeper sectoral tariffs on industries such as semiconductors, a significant contributor to economies like Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

EAEU, Iran agree to use Iranian ports to access other markets

Interfax, Sep 25, 2025 – Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries will be able to use Iranian ports to enter the Indian Ocean and ship goods to third countries, including India.

IRAN, EURASIAN ECOOMIC UNION SIGN ROADMAP FOR FUTURE COOPERATION

Islamic Republic News Agency, Sep 24, 2025 – The document was signed by Industry, Mine and Trade Minister Mohammad Atabak and EAEU Trade Minister Andrey Slepnev on Wednesday.
“At today’s talks, we outlined the general framework for future trade and economic cooperation between Iran and the five member states of the Eurasian Economic Union within the roadmap,” Atabak told reporters. He said the session also reviewed past cooperation and future prospects, with 16 subcommittees presenting their reports.

Vietnam PM targets Mercosur, GCC pacts to counter US duties

MalayMail, Sep 24, 2025 – Exports “will face difficulties and challenges… due to strategic competition, conflicts and the US’s ‘reciprocal’ tariff policies,” Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said in a statement posted on the government’s website today….
To offset the impact of the US duties, Vietnam aims to sign free trade agreements with Latin America’s Mercosur trading bloc and Gulf Cooperation Council countries by the end of the year, Chinh said.

ASEAN to boost stagnant intra-regional trade

The Sun (Malaysia), Sep 23, 2025 – ASEAN will intensify efforts to deepen regional economic integration and revive intra-regional trade.
According to reports, intra-ASEAN trade currently makes up just 21.2 per cent of the region’s total trade in 2024.
This figure falls far behind other blocs such as the European Union, which has an intra-trade level of 60 per cent.

Experts: RCEP is ASEAN’s lifeline

EXPAND BOTH INTRA-ASEAN, INTER-REGIONAL TRADE BETWEEN REGION, RCEP, GCC, EU

Viet Nam News, Sep 22, 2025 – Economist Dr Yeah Kim Leng of Sunway University pointed out that pursuit of unilateral import tariffs and the US-centric ­economic agenda by the Donald Trump administration would mean that it is crucial for all other countries to step up trade and economic co-operation….
Malaysia’s current leadership role in Asean offers not only the opportunity to expand trade and investment among member ­countries, but also to integrate Asean with other free trade ­agreements where Malaysia is a member….
“During the current Asean ­ministerial meetings, Malaysia is ­strategically positioned to stimulate interest and expand both intra-Asean and inter-regional cooperation between the region and RCEP, GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and the EU,” he said.

AS US TARIFFS SPLIT ASEAN, CAN BLOC STILL MUSTER UNIFIED RESPONSE?

South China Morning Post, Sep 22 2025 – Washington’s preference for bilateral negotiations showed that it had little appetite for an Asean-wide deal, Malaysia-based economist Doris Liew said, adding that the regional bloc itself had struggled to agree to a common position due to its diverse levels of development and conflicting national interests.
“Any effort to negotiate collectively would take years, and the US president is unlikely to wait that long,” Liew told This Week in Asia….
“I think by now, the new trade reality has gradually settled in the minds and actions of most Asean countries and businesses,” said Oh Ei Sun, principal adviser at the Pacific Research Centre.
“Washington is simply not interested in dealing with Asean en bloc.”EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION:

Gulf states to form ‘regional shield’ against threats

EXPAND INTEL SHARING THROUGH UNIFIED MILITARY COMMAND

Dawn (Pakistan), Sep 20, 2025 – Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have pledged sweeping steps to bolster collective defence, including plans to increase intelligence sharing, develop new missile warning systems, and hold joint defence drills, after Israel launched a deadly strike on Doha earlier this month….
The GCC — a political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern nations: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates — has agreed to expand intelligence sharing through Unified Military Command.

Iran, India, and the Trump Sanction Trap

IRAN PORT MAY BECOME LYNCHPIN IN INDIA’S EURASIAN INTEGRATION

Sri Lanka Guardian, Sep 22, 2025 – Delhi has dealing with the Taliban and, more importantly, has jettisoned the pro-US tilt in its Afghan policy, and rebooted its coordination with Tehran and Moscow at a juncture when Iran-Russia ties have assumed an unprecedented strategic connotation; and it is entirely conceivable that Chabahar may become a lynchpin in India’s Eurasian integration.

Central Asia Deepens Trade Links with India Amid Growing Economic Ties

Times of Central Asia, Sep 18, 2025 – Kyrgyzstan’s trade with India is relatively small, at about $50 million, but the relationship is significant in the context of regional institutions like the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The two nations also cooperate in education and tourism, with thousands of Indian students studying medicine in Kyrgyz universities. These people-to-people connections are seen as a foundation for stronger economic engagement in the future.
The trajectory of India-Central Asia trade is clear: while current figures remain modest compared to India’s dealings with other global partners, they are trending upwards. Both sides see opportunities in energy, infrastructure, and digital technology. Yet the success of this partnership will depend on how effectively they address logistical challenges, and diversify beyond traditional trade items.
For Central Asia, closer ties with India offer a chance to balance relationships with traditional partners such as Russia and China, while tapping into India’s massive consumer market.

SOUTH AMERICA – MERCOSUR:

South America’s Mercosur bloc signs trade deal with 4 European countries

U.S. TARIFFS PROMPT PUSH TO DIVERSIFY TRADING PARTNERS

Pittsburgh Morning Sun, Sep 16, 2025 – South America’s Mercosur bloc signed a free trade deal Tuesday with the European countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, as ties between the two continents deepen amid global uncertainty sparked by sweeping U.S. tariffs….
The Mercosur bloc also hopes to soon ratify a much larger free trade deal with the European Union…. Observers say that the EU-Mercosur trade deal increased in importance for Brazil after Trump’s 50% tariff, as it led to an increased push to diversify trading partners.

NORTH AMERICA:

AI Could Transform US-Mexico Border Into “Smart Trade Corridor”

PRESENTS OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN REGIONAL INTEGRATION

“AS SUPPLY CHAINS ARE RECONFIGURED ACROSS NORTH AMERICA”
Mexico Business News, Sep 12, 2025 – The US-Mexico border is emerging as a logistical and technological innovation hub, where AI can transform data management, speed goods crossing, and strengthen North America’s global competitiveness.
Glenn Hamer, President and CEO, Texas Association of Business,…. said the nearshoring trend presents an opportunity to strengthen regional integration.
“Mexico is now the United States’ No. 1 trading partner. If we use AI wisely, we can ensure that the country remains the world’s leading economic and military power as supply chains are reconfigured across North America,” said Hamer.

NORTH AMERICA – REGIONAL PROTECTIONISM:

Mexico plans 50% tariff on Chinese cars before US, Canada talks

‘SUGGESTS CREATING A COMMON BLOC AGAINST CHINA’

WTO Center, Sep 12, 2025 – Mexico plans to impose tariffs of as much as 50% on cars and other products made by China and several Asian exporters, aligning the country more closely with US protectionism….
“It’s a protectionist measure, very much in Trump’s style, that suggests creating a common bloc against China. It’s to be expected ahead of the review of the USMCA,” said Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Mexican bank Banco Base.
“COMMON EXTERNAL TARIFFS” IS LEVEL TWO OF “THE FIVE LEVELS OF ECONOMIC INTEGRATION”

SE ASIA – ASEAN:

PM: Trump to visit Malaysia for ASEAN summit, Putin may join

Caliber (Azerbaijan), Sep 13, 2025 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has confirmed that United States President Donald Trump will visit Malaysia next month in conjunction with the 47th ASEAN Summit, which will also be attended by Chinese Premier Li Qiang….
The Prime Minister further disclosed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is also “seriously considering” a visit to Malaysia, following a recent meeting between the two leaders in Beijing.

CONTINENTAL INDEPENDENCE:

‘Battle lines for a new world order based on power‘

EU REGION ASSERTS ITS NEW MERCANTILISM:
‘SO, YES, EUROPE MUST FIGHT’

‘THIS MUST BE EUROPE’S INDEPENDENCE MOMENT’

State of the European Union 2025, by Ursula Von Der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Sep 10, 2025 –
“A new Europe must emerge” @2:01; “The next reunification of Europe” @19:49; AI @32:30; “Made in Europe” @35:10; Diversify trade @52:12, Gov funding for “independent” media @59:33 . Full transcript

EAEU:

TASS: Pakistan to recognize Armenia as UN member to get green light to join Eurasian Economic Union, sources say

News.am (Armenia), Sep 9, 2025 – Pakistan plans to recognize Armenia as a United Nations (UN) member state in order to get a green light to join the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), sources told TASS, the latter reports.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier that Russia welcomed the resumption of communication between Armenia and Pakistan.

ASEAN:

Business leaders push for stronger Asean ties to tap region’s potential

BLOC’S DEEPER ECONOMIC INTEGRATION ‘WOULD BE EXPEDITED BY NECESSITY’

South China Morning Post, Sep 9, 2025 – Business leaders have called for deeper economic integration in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) for the bloc to enjoy seamless trade and travel between member states, and fully tap its potential as a region with a young growing middle class.
[Michael Tene, former deputy secretary general of Asean] argued that economic integration in the bloc would be expedited by necessity. “When necessity arises, we will all pull our act together to ensure that we can all face the challenges.”

CHINA, PAKISTAN, SOUTH ASIA:

China and Pakistan Unveil Joint Action Plan 2025-2029 to Strengthen Strategic Partnership

ProPakistani, Sep 8, 2025 – China and Pakistan have announced a comprehensive Joint Action Plan 2025-2029 to deepen their “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership” and build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future.
Signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China, the plan outlines a roadmap for collaboration across political, economic, security, and cultural domains, reaffirming the enduring friendship between the two nations….
Both nations emphasized the importance of multilateralism and regional stability, particularly in South Asia. China reiterated its support for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with UN resolutions. The two sides pledged to work together on global climate governance, Afghanistan’s stability, and the Middle East peace process.
PAKISTAN AND CHINA JUST MADE A HUGE AVIATION MOVE. HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR NEW DIRECT FLIGHTS
TTW, Sep 8, 2025 – The impact of Pakistan and China’s agreement will also extend to the broader South Asian region. With easier air access between Pakistan and China, travelers and businesses from neighboring countries will have enhanced opportunities for regional interaction. This will likely encourage a boost in trade, tourism, and investment between nations in the region….
As new direct flights emerge, this will complement the CPEC project by making trade routes more accessible, facilitating easier exchanges of goods and services, and fostering greater regional integration….
The increase in direct flights will also positively affect neighboring nations, particularly in South Asia. Travelers from countries like India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka will find it easier to engage with Pakistan and China, potentially leading to a rise in regional investments, trade, and tourism. With better connectivity, China and Pakistan will likely attract even greater foreign interest, further enriching their economies and contributing to a more integrated South Asian market.

AFRICAN UNION:

‘King of Kings’: Eswatini king chosen to represent African monarchs at AU

Meeting co-hosted by African Union Human Rights Commission

Times of Eswatini, Sep 6, 2025 – His Majesty the King [Mswati III] has been officially crowned ‘King of Kings’ by a group of African monarchs and traditional leaders.
They are in the country to seek his leadership and representation at the continental level. The meeting is co-hosted by the African Union (AU) Human Rights Commission, recognising the rights of indigenous African leaders to participate in governance.
Over 50 kings, queens and chiefs from across Africa and the diaspora have converged at Esibayeni Lodge in Matsapha, where they are holding a historic conference aimed at re-establishing the role and voice for the traditional authorities of the continent.
FROM THE ARCHIVES: I’M THE KING OF KINGS: GADDAFI STORMS OUT OF ARAB SUMMIT AND LABELS SAUDI KING ‘A BRITISH PRODUCT’ – Daily Mail (London), March 30, 2009

EUROPEAN UNION’S AI MERCANTILISM:

Europe hopes to join competitive AI race with supercomputer Jupiter

France 24, Sep 5, 2025 – With the launch of supercomputer Jupiter, the biggest artificial intelligence machine in Europe, on Friday, the continent hopes to join the AI training models race after lagging behind the US and China.

GCC’s AI MERCANTILISM:

ReqReadyAI Expands into the Middle East’s GCC Region to Bridge Critical AI Skills Gap

CBS42, Sep 5, 2025 – ReqReadyAI, a people-focused hiring solutions firm leveraging artificial intelligence, today announced its strategic expansion into the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. The move targets the massive skills gap emerging from the area’s unprecedented AI investment boom.
The GCC region has become a “hot bed for AI activity,” with governments and corporations pouring historic amounts into artificial intelligence initiatives.

AFRICAN UNION R&D:

African economies urged to invest in research for industrial transformation

Afreximbank, Sep 6, 2025 – The hub is a joint initiative of Afreximbank, the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat that aims to promote and commercialise African research and innovation. It provides a platform for academics, researchers, and students to contribute their knowledge and expertise toward advancing Intra-African trade and industrialisation….
Studies indicate that if Africa merely doubles its R&D spending to 1% of GDP by 2030, we could unlock an estimated $60–70 billion annually in additional value across agriculture, digital technology, and manufacturing. This would boost productivity, reduce import dependence, and expand Africa’s share of global trade,” Dr Kale argued.

ASEAN’s AI MERCANTILISM:

Charting ASEAN’s Path to AI Governance: Uneven Yet Gaining Ground

AI-RELATED RISKS SUGGEST NEED FOR MORE BINDING REGULATIONS

National Bureau of Asian Research, Sep 4, 2025 – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its member states’ innovation-friendly approach to artificial intelligence (AI) has in some measure been effective in advancing the region toward its goal of becoming a fully digital economy. The current framework seeks to ensure that no country is left behind. However, growing AI-related risks now suggest the need for more binding regulations.
AMID TRUMP TURBULENCE, ASEAN+3 CHARTS ASIA’S AI FUTURE
East Asia Forum, Sep 3, 2025 – Amid escalating US trade protectionism under President Donald Trump, ASEAN+3 member countries are reviving their cooperative agendas to bolster strategic resilience in the age of AI. The bloc has the opportunity to enhance innovation, safeguard supply chains and cooperate on leading AI innovation, positioning East Asia to navigate systemic shocks.

EAEU’s AI MERCANTILISM:

Digital Geopolitics and AI Strategy in Central Asia

RUSSIA PUSHES UNIFIED DIGITAL STANDARDS, BINDING REGION TO REGULATORY ORBIT

Times of Central Asia, Sep 2, 2025 – ….Russia participates in this competition of models by relying on traditional geopolitical frameworks. It continues to promote the concept of a “sovereign internet”, introduced through legislation in 2019, as a tool of control. Moscow presents it as a digital export product for members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Within the EAEU’s digital agenda, Russia pushes unified digital standards, customs, and logistics platforms, binding the region to its regulatory orbit.

NORTH AMERICA’S AI MERCANTILISM:

MAGA’s Plan for AI Dominance vs. Canada’s Quest for AI Sovereignty: Is North America Big Enough for Both?

AMERICA BUILDING AI EMPIRE, AND NORTH AMERICA IS ON FRONT LINES

National News watch, Sep 2, 2025Indeed, the very idea of Canadian AI sovereignty conflicts with MAGA’s plan. American firms need access to international markets, including North America. If Canada limits that access by carving out a sovereign digital space, industry will almost certainly retaliate, buying up our firms, reshaping our regulations, and absorbing Canadian AI into the American system. These firms have very deep pockets, and their agenda is clear. America is building an AI empire, and North America is on the front lines.

AFRICAN UNION:

US, African Union attend second oversight committee meeting for Congo-Rwanda peace deal

APL |Reuters, Sep 3, 2025 – Qatar, United States, Togo and the African Union Commission participated in the second joint oversight committee meeting for the peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, the U.S. State Department said in a joint statement released on Wednesday.
LAND QUARRELS IN REBEL-OCCUPIED CONGO THREATEN TRUMP PEACE DEAL
AOL | Reuters, Sep 5, 2025 – Returning to land they fled during a violent advance by M23 rebels, some farmers in eastern Congo have had an unwelcome surprise: Their fields of cauliflower and cabbage have been taken over by newcomers, including Rwandans.
The resulting tensions could complicate efforts to bring peace and investment to a war-hit region that produces strategic minerals such as coltan, cobalt, copper and lithium.
Rwanda and Congo signed a peace deal brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration in June.
WHY AFRICAN NATIONS ARE LOOKING TO UNITE ON CLIMATE AND CONFLICT
The New Humanitarian, Sep 4, 2025 – Common African Positions (CAP) are policy documents on issues identified by the African Union as needing a continental-wide approach…. A big example is changing rainfall patterns …. So it creates issues: If a pastoralist’s animals destroy some crops, and then the farmers react by killing the animals, conflict erupts…. This is a direct example of how a climate impact is driving conflict…. In the Sahel, drought has displaced many farmers, and when they move to other communities, it increases competition and sometimes results in conflict….  People, as a means of survival, are joining armed groups, engaging in trafficking, engaging in kidnapping, engaging in conflict and violence against the state…. It will be a key negotiating document for the AU at COPs (UN climate summits), where officials can have a unified policy framework that they can present to negotiate on issues relating to climate change and security in Africa.

INTER-REGIONAL TRADE:

EU moves ahead with Mercosur trade deal, pending member states’ approval

PUSH TO OPEN NEW MARKETS IN FACE OF US TARIFFS

Le Monde|AFP, Sep 3, 2025 – The European Commission gave final approval Wednesday to a vast trade deal with South America’s Mercosur bloc, insisting it carries ‘robust safeguards’ for farmers.
The agreement to form a 700-million-customer free-trade area, the world’s biggest, is a key pillar in Brussels’ push to open new markets in the face of United States tariffs. But it has faced Paris-led opposition over agricultural concerns.

EUROPEAN UNION:

Position paper – “Made in Europe” content requirements

ACEA, Sep 1, 2025 – The European Commission is planning to introduce sustainability, resilience, and minimum EU content requirements in procurement for strategic sectors, particularly targeting the automotive industry.
This position paper emphasises that “Made in Europe” policies alone are insufficient. Instead, a strong industrial base requires favourable conditions such as competitive energy prices, streamlined permitting, skilled labour, and targeted incentives.

‘FORTRESS NORTH AMERICA’:

Mexico to impose higher tariffs on Chinese imports, backs US push for ‘Fortress North America’: Report

TREASURY SEC SCOTT BESSENT HAS SHOWN STRONG SUPPORT FOR IDEA

Financial Express (India), Aug 28, 2025 – The Mexican government is preparing to raise tariffs on Chinese imports in its 2026 budget proposal….
Since the start of this year, the Trump administration has been pressing Mexican officials to impose higher duties on Chinese imports, similar to the steps taken by the United States.
Mexican officials later floated the idea of creating a “Fortress North America,” which would involve limiting goods from China while boosting trade and industrial ties among the US, Mexico and Canada. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has shown strong support for the idea.
The tariff discussions come as the three nations prepare to review their free-trade deal by the middle of next year.

‘FRAGMENTED’ BRICS ALTERNATIVE TO DOLLAR:

The Impact of Central Bank Digital Currencies on Regional Power Dynamics

PROMOTING FRAGMENTATION INTO REGIONAL BLOCS

BRICS NATIONS TO GAIN LEVERAGE BY OFFERING THEIR DEVELOPING CBDC CURRENCIES AS ALTERNATIVES, THUS DEEPENING INTRA-REGIONAL TRADE
The International Banker, Aug 27, 2025 – The proliferation of CBDCs is fostering alternative cross-border networks, such as mBridge, and connecting central banks in China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and others to share liquidity and settle in local digital currencies. This model presents a stark contrast to the single interconnected US dollar system, instead promoting fragmentation into regional blocs defined by their own digital rails. Such a fragmented architecture challenges the dollar’s primacy, shifting economic gravity toward emerging power centers, especially China and other BRICS nations, which gain leverage by offering their currencies and infrastructures as alternatives….
As a result, countries within regional blocs (for example, the Belt and Road Initiative [BRI] and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership [RCEP]) can bolster economic autonomy while deepening intra-regional trade and influence, ushering in a multipolar financial ecosystem.

SOUTH ASIA, CHINA:

Pakistan seeks deeper China ties with new push on finance, ports and CPEC

BROADER STRATEGY OF ECONOMIC, REGIONAL INTEGRATION

Arab News, Sep 1, 2025 – Pakistan is seeking to broaden its partnership with China by advancing cooperation in finance, port development and the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), top Pakistani officials said on Monday, signaling Islamabad’s renewed focus on strengthening economic integration with its longtime strategic ally….
In his meeting with the [Industrial and Commercial Bank of China] chairman, [Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb] …. emphasized that partnerships with Chinese financial institutions are not only vital for meeting immediate financing needs but are also integral to Pakistan’s broader strategy of diversification, financial innovation, and regional integration
GROWING PAKISTAN-BANGLADESH  RELATIONS ARE CHANGING REGIONAL GEOPOLITICS
The Diplomat, Sep 1, 2025 – Efforts are being made to rediscover the connection between erstwhile East and West Pakistan, which was severed in 1971, when the former broke away to emerge as a sovereign country, Bangladesh….
China, on the other hand, has been increasingly active in South Asia, particularly through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Both Pakistan and Bangladesh are key partners in the BRI, and China’s growing economic and strategic influence in the region could provide an additional impetus for Pakistan-Bangladesh cooperation.

See older article links, summaries in NEWS ARCHIVE

VIDEO: GLOBAL SHAKEDOWN (2015)
The world’s developing and projected regional blocs. (Excerpt @ 20:15 of 27:33)