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Rethinking Trade: ASEAN’s Rise in a Fragmented World

Aparna Bharadwaj, Global Leader, BCG’s Global Advantage Practice

20-May-25 12:00

Rethinking Trade: ASEAN’s Rise in a Fragmented World

As global trade becomes more fragmented, the Global South is stepping into a more prominent role. But with rising geopolitical tensions, how can Southeast Asian nations chart their own course, without falling into the crossfire between the US and China?

Aparna Bharadwaj, Global Leader of BCG’s Global Advantage Practice, joins us to unpack the growing influence of the Global South, ASEAN’s unique position, and what business leaders need to do to navigate the new trade order.

We discuss:

  • ASEAN’s balancing act between China and the US

  • The end of WTO-led globalisation, and what replaces it

  • How to build “geopolitical muscle” for resilience and agility

  • How to tap into South-South trade as it outpaces global trade

  • The evolving strengths of the Global South: capital, culture & innovation

  • What policymakers can do to make growth more inclusive and sustainable

Whether you’re an investor, policymaker, or business leader, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for operating, and thriving, in an increasingly multipolar world.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Roshan Kanesan, Kishan Sivaswamy

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


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Categories:  economypoliticsinternationalmarkets

Tags:  geopolitical muscleglobal tradeaseangeopolitical strategyglobal southsupply chainsmultipolar world





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