Session 501 - EARLY, Bryan
Strategic Trade Controls and Regional Cooperation in ASEAN Pacific Forum CSIS Dialogue on Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security Cooperation in Southeast Asia – May 31st – June 1st, 2016
By Dr. Bryan R. Early Associate Professor of Political Science Director Center for Policy Research University at Albany, SUNY
Presentation • Purpose of strategic trade controls (STCs) • UNSCR 1540 and Global Compliance Efforts • ASEAN and regional cooperation on strategic trade control policies
Why Impose Strategic Trade Controls • Strategic trade controls allow governments to regulate the trade and/or transfer of weapons, weapons-‐related goods and technologies, and their means of production that involve their citizens or take place within their borders
UNSCR 1540’s Obligations • UNSCR 1540 (2004) created a universal obligation for all states to adopt appropriate, effective strategic control systems, but it did not create a universal strategic trade control system • Every country faces different proliferation risks and, for most countries, adopting a national strategic trade control system tailored to their circumstances is the best choice
Global Trends in International Engagement with the UNSCR 1540 Committee
ASEAN Engagement with the 1540 Committee in 2016
States Requesting Assistance from the 1540 Committee
ASEAN and Strategic Trade Controls • The ASEAN Economic Community and Single Window Initiative represent important ways in which ASEAN countries are linking their economies together to facilitate trade • To what extent can strategic trade controls be incorporated as part of these efforts?
Challenges to Controlling Strategic Trade Regionally • ASEAN countries have very different proliferation risk profiles – Singapore – Laos – Indonesia • Variation exists in the progress ASEAN countries have made in imposing strategic trade controls
Challenges to Controlling Strategic Trade Regionally • ASEAN has is not designed to be a robust supranational organization that infringes on its members’ sovereignty – ASEAN is not like the European Union (EU) and is not trying to model itself on the EU • Regional strategic trade control strategies that work for the EU won’t necessarily be appropriate for ASEAN
Verdict on a Harmonized Regional Strategic Trade Control Strategy • Trying to develop a harmonized strategic trade control system for ASEAN Economic Community is probably not feasible in the near term • Currently, the ASEAN Single Window Initiative does not appear to be a productive venue for developing a regional STC regime – Members’ STC systems are too far apart – Sensitivities around the issue could be an impediment to the Single Window Initiative’s progress in other areas
ASEAN’s Regional Advantages in Strategic Trade Control Cooperation • Some ASEAN has countries that have taken the lead in developing strategic trade controls, such as Singapore and Malaysia • These countries can: – Lead by example, engage ASEAN businesses – Offer guidance on effective strategies and lessons learned to fellow ASEAN members – Anchor regional strategic trade control efforts, especially as the point of exit for ASEAN goods
ASEAN’s Role in Regional Strategic Trade Control Development • Promote regional norms on STC policies and hold members accountable for making progress • Create a regional database of all members STC policies – Accountability – Reference tool for governments and industry • Serve as a forum for obtaining advice and spearheading regional efforts at obtaining foreign assistance
ASEAN’s Role in Regional Strategic Trade Control Development • Developing regional strategies to identify and counter proliferation risks – Role for the Single Window Initiative • Facilitating information sharing and cooperation in the enforcement of strategic trade controls – Role for the Single Window Initiative
Conclusion • At present, pursuing a harmonized STC system via ASEAN does not appear to be a productive strategy • ASEAN can still play a very constructive role in its members’ development of national strategic trade control systems and in facilitating regional cooperation on STC-‐related issues
By Dr. Bryan R. Early Associate Professor of Political Science Director Center for Policy Research University at Albany, SUNY
Presentation • Purpose of strategic trade controls (STCs) • UNSCR 1540 and Global Compliance Efforts • ASEAN and regional cooperation on strategic trade control policies
Why Impose Strategic Trade Controls • Strategic trade controls allow governments to regulate the trade and/or transfer of weapons, weapons-‐related goods and technologies, and their means of production that involve their citizens or take place within their borders
UNSCR 1540’s Obligations • UNSCR 1540 (2004) created a universal obligation for all states to adopt appropriate, effective strategic control systems, but it did not create a universal strategic trade control system • Every country faces different proliferation risks and, for most countries, adopting a national strategic trade control system tailored to their circumstances is the best choice
Global Trends in International Engagement with the UNSCR 1540 Committee
ASEAN Engagement with the 1540 Committee in 2016
States Requesting Assistance from the 1540 Committee
ASEAN and Strategic Trade Controls • The ASEAN Economic Community and Single Window Initiative represent important ways in which ASEAN countries are linking their economies together to facilitate trade • To what extent can strategic trade controls be incorporated as part of these efforts?
Challenges to Controlling Strategic Trade Regionally • ASEAN countries have very different proliferation risk profiles – Singapore – Laos – Indonesia • Variation exists in the progress ASEAN countries have made in imposing strategic trade controls
Challenges to Controlling Strategic Trade Regionally • ASEAN has is not designed to be a robust supranational organization that infringes on its members’ sovereignty – ASEAN is not like the European Union (EU) and is not trying to model itself on the EU • Regional strategic trade control strategies that work for the EU won’t necessarily be appropriate for ASEAN
Verdict on a Harmonized Regional Strategic Trade Control Strategy • Trying to develop a harmonized strategic trade control system for ASEAN Economic Community is probably not feasible in the near term • Currently, the ASEAN Single Window Initiative does not appear to be a productive venue for developing a regional STC regime – Members’ STC systems are too far apart – Sensitivities around the issue could be an impediment to the Single Window Initiative’s progress in other areas
ASEAN’s Regional Advantages in Strategic Trade Control Cooperation • Some ASEAN has countries that have taken the lead in developing strategic trade controls, such as Singapore and Malaysia • These countries can: – Lead by example, engage ASEAN businesses – Offer guidance on effective strategies and lessons learned to fellow ASEAN members – Anchor regional strategic trade control efforts, especially as the point of exit for ASEAN goods
ASEAN’s Role in Regional Strategic Trade Control Development • Promote regional norms on STC policies and hold members accountable for making progress • Create a regional database of all members STC policies – Accountability – Reference tool for governments and industry • Serve as a forum for obtaining advice and spearheading regional efforts at obtaining foreign assistance
ASEAN’s Role in Regional Strategic Trade Control Development • Developing regional strategies to identify and counter proliferation risks – Role for the Single Window Initiative • Facilitating information sharing and cooperation in the enforcement of strategic trade controls – Role for the Single Window Initiative
Conclusion • At present, pursuing a harmonized STC system via ASEAN does not appear to be a productive strategy • ASEAN can still play a very constructive role in its members’ development of national strategic trade control systems and in facilitating regional cooperation on STC-‐related issues
