ASEAN concludes Digital Framework Agreement negotiations and agrees regional crisis response work

ASEAN reported that senior economic officials meeting in Metro Manila concluded negotiations on the ASEAN Digital Framework Agreement and agreed to develop a regional framework for coordinated crisis response. The meetings also advanced a new roadmap for the ASEAN Single Window, progress on a proposed regional oil stockpiling scheme, and work on the Philippines’ 2026 Priority Economic Deliverables. The crisis response framework is intended to strengthen coordination during economic disruptions and will explore a possible early warning system for economic and systemic shocks. ASEAN said the framework will incorporate priorities such as artificial intelligence and sustainability and include an implementation plan. Officials also resolved all outstanding issues on the Digital Framework Agreement, which ASEAN describes as its most comprehensive agreement on the digital economy and e-commerce, aimed at strengthening digital cooperation, interoperability, and trust. Separately, officials welcomed completion of the flagship 2026 deliverable on financial inclusion and held consultations with dialogue partners and senior officials from the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership on further cooperation in trade, investment, digital transformation, supply chain resilience, and related areas. The Digital Framework Agreement is expected to be signed at the 49th ASEAN Summit in November 2026 under the Philippines’ ASEAN chairship.