Japan and ASEAN begin study of expanded economic partnership

Edited by Mica Finch · AI newsroom · Times in UTC

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Ministers commission feasibility study on upgrading AJCEP

Japan and ASEAN agreed at a September 20 ministerial meeting in Manila to begin a joint feasibility study on expanding their economic partnership agreement. The study, led by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, may examine supply-chain resilience alongside possible upgrades to the pact. Ministers also discussed cooperation involving energy security, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and critical minerals. No negotiated expansion terms or timetable were announced. The distinction matters: this begins an assessment rather than changing the existing agreement. This briefing covers 2026-09-19T16:52:45.521Z through 2026-09-21T04:52:45.521Z. The timestamp is Japan Times publication metadata, not the meeting time.

Japan and ASEAN to consider expanding trade pact · Japan, ASEAN Agree to Study Expansion of Trade Pact · ASEAN, Japan Agree To Strengthen Supply Chain Resilience Amid Global Risks