ABSTRACT
In recent decades, the Asian region has enjoyed the benefits of an increasingly neo-liberalist trade policy agenda. However, as more protectionist trade policies gain momentum and a global pandemic still having an impact on the region, many ponder what the future might look like. Will international trade continue to be a key driving force for progress and economic development? To address this question, our research examines the current economic, trade, and geopolitical factors of Asia to ascertain whether the current policy settings are right and potentially what countries can do to harness the enormous potential that lies within the region. Our analysis shows that while COVID-19 and the ongoing war in the Ukraine have undoubtedly had an impact, the reliance of local communities and the desire by Governments to try and retain, where possible, an open and forward-thinking view towards international trade and development means that an optimistic view of future remains. However, such optimism has been tempered by inflationary concerns and the uncertainty that still exists around how far and how fast interest rates will rise in the United States (US), the flow on effects of which will have a bearing on the economic performance of Asia.
