East Asia Trade Corridors and Supply Chains Target Greater Resilience

East Asia trade corridors will remain a regional priority as economic ministers seek to keep markets open and strengthen supply-chain resilience amid changing global economic conditions.

The commitment was made at the 14th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting in Pasay City, chaired by Philippine Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque.

The combined nominal GDP of participating East Asia Summit economies reached USD69.6tr in 2025, underlining the economic scale of the grouping.

ASEAN’s merchandise trade with non-ASEAN East Asia Summit economies totalled USD3.07tr, while investment from those economies into ASEAN reached USD83.2bn.

Ministers stressed the importance of maintaining open trade corridors and strengthening regional supply chains as economies respond to global uncertainty.

They also highlighted the need for reliable and affordable energy supplies and backed regional initiatives including the ASEAN Power Grid, which aims to strengthen electricity connectivity and support greater energy cooperation across Southeast Asia.