US-ASEAN Business Council

05/22/2026

The US-ASEAN Business Council and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce were honored to convene an exclusive private sector roundtable with The Honorable Lee Lipton, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines on May 21.

Held shortly after his Senate confirmation, the discussion provided a timely opportunity for business leaders to engage Ambassador Lipton as he prepares to assume his post at a particularly significant moment in the bilateral relationship. This context is shaped by the 80th anniversary of U.S.-Philippines diplomatic relations alongside the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship, underscoring both the depth of bilateral ties and the country’s growing regional leadership. In his first engagement with the U.S. private sector after his confirmation, Ambassador Lipton highlighted that business engagement will be at the forefront of his agenda.

Participants exchanged views on the evolving economic landscape, with a focus on trade, investment, supply chains, and the private sector’s role in advancing shared strategic priorities in the Philippines. We look forward to further engaging with Ambassador Lipton and his team in the Philippines in the months ahead.

05/21/2026

On 19 May, the Council met with Bapak Heru Kustanto, Head of the Center for the Promotion of Domestic Product Use (P3DN) and Bapak Syahroni Ahmad, Secretary of the Directorate General of Regional Resilience and International Industrial Access of the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Indonesia.

This meeting kicked off our bi-monthly engagements with the Ministry of Industry, reflecting a shared commitment to regular dialogue. Led by our Chief Country Representative for Indonesia together with USABC members, the discussion focused on local content requirements (LCR), their implications for businesses operating in Indonesia, and opportunities for the private sector to support government priorities through industry insights and international best practices. We appreciate the open and constructive discussion and look forward to continued engagement through this forum.

05/19/2026

On May 15, the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) convened two meetings as part of the Singapore Business Mission 2026: first with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Singapore, followed by a joint session with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), for a discussion on Singapore’s economic landscape and opportunities to deepen U.S.-Singapore cooperation. The meetings featured remarks from MFA Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade & Industry Gan Siow Huang, EDB Chairman Png Cheong Boon, and EnterpiseSG Chairman Lee Chuan Teck.

05/15/2026

On May 14, USABC hosted a roundtable with the new Director of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) New York, Suthashini Supramaniam (Ms.) in Washington D.C. During the roundtable, Ms. Sutha shared that the Malaysian government has implemented an outcome-based New Incentive Framework (NIF) for the manufacturing sector, and will soon launch NIF for the services sector, in alignment with the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030.

05/15/2026

From May 12-14, the US-ASEAN Business Council held its 2026 Business Mission to Malaysia, advancing dialogue and fostering collaboration between the U.S. private sector and key stakeholders in Malaysia. The mission, comprising 22 U.S. companies, was co-led by Ambassador Brian D. McFeeters (ret.), USABC President & Chief Executive Officer, and Wong Chiun Chiek, Strategic Investments Vice President, Asia Pacific at IBM.

Over the course of 3 days, the delegation met with YAB Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and senior government officials across multiple ministries to discuss shared priorities including trade predictability, digital transformation, sustainable growth, business continuity, and high-value investments.

Amidst evolving global economic and geopolitical challenges, the mission underscored the strong commitment of the U.S. private sector to deepen long-term partnerships with Malaysia and support the country in its resilient and innovation-driven growth.

05/14/2026

Tariffs may come and go, but ASEAN's growth is here to stay. USABC President & CEO, Amb. Brian McFeeters, talks to Bernama TV about ASEAN's evolving trade strategy and 's growing role in the global technology supply chain. Watch:

THE NATIONMONDAY | 11TH MAY 20263:00 PM – 3:30PMTOPIC:ASEAN’S STRATEGY AMIDST GLOBAL TRADE TENSIONSGUEST:AMB. BRIAN MCFEETERS (RET.)President & CEO,US-ASEAN ...

05/14/2026

On May 12, USABC, in partnership with the American Distilled Spirits Alliance (ADSA), co-hosted an evening dialogue on Thailand’s tourism landscape. The program featured remarks from H.E. Dr. Suriya Chindawongse, Ambassador of Thailand to the United States, and convened leaders from the American hospitality and spirits sectors.

The discussion highlighted Thailand’s strategic shift from volume‑driven tourism to a value‑focused model, reflecting Thailand’s commitment to promoting experiential travel, high quality visitor experiences, and sustainable long-term growth across the tourism sector— opening new opportunities for collaboration with U.S. industry.

USABC is grateful to ADSA and the Royal Thai Embassy, Washington, D.C. for this meaningful engagement.

05/13/2026

Strong frameworks must produce stronger outcomes. In the Vietnam Economic Times, USABC Vietnam Chief Country Representative Mr. Thanh Vu shares his strategic roadmap to translate Vietnam’s policy potential into real-world results — starting with hidden compliance costs and administrative bottlenecks. Read:

Từ Askonomy đến Asko Platform - Hành trình xây dựng hệ sinh thái AI phục vụ doanh nghiệp Việt Tin được tóm tắt tự động bởi askobrief Xem thêm

05/11/2026

From May 5 to 7, the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) successfully held its 2026 Business Mission, convening 21 leading U.S. companies for high-level dialogue with Singapore government officials, as both countries celebrate 60 years of bilateral ties.

Co-led by Ambassador Brian McFeeters, USABC President & CEO, and Matis Pellerin, Vice President for Global Government Affairs at Oracle, the mission advanced dialogue on AI, digital transformation, resilient supply chains, and early engagement on Singapore's 2027 ASEAN Chairmanship.

Discussions focused on how U.S. companies can support Singapore's emerging technology priorities and reinforce its position as a leader in the AI-enabled economy in Asia at a critical moment of economic and technological transformation.

05/07/2026

On May 6, the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), together with the Joint Business Council (JBC), participated virtually in the 16th ASEAN Customs Coordinating Committee (CCC)–Private Sector Consultation. During the session, IBP Angga Antagia delivered key recommendations, alongside the EU-ASEAN Business Council aimed at advancing trade facilitation and enhancing customs processes across the region.

The recommendations focused on priority areas including e-commerce clearance, customs automation, illicit trade prevention, the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, streamlining procedures for the destruction of abandoned import goods, and broader customs reforms.

As ASEAN moves forward with its Strategic Plan of Customs Development (SPCD) 2026–2030, engagement with the private sector is becoming increasingly critical. ASEAN Customs officials expressed strong appreciation for the continued constructive engagement.

05/06/2026

If you are based in Singapore and are interested in dialogue around arts, culture, politics and business, consider attending Jomfest at the Asian Civilisations Museum for a half-day of intellectual nourishment on Tuesday May 19 from 1-6 PM.

Learn more and purchase your ticket here: https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/lite_jomfest2026?ref=jom.media