Journal of World Trade Studies

Competitive Advantage and Policies of Japan’s Electric Vehicles in Southeast Asia

2025-05-15T10:24:25+07:00

Due to growing environmental awareness, governments and people all over the world started to show concern and place importance on energy efficiency. The transformation from fossil-fuelled energy to renewable energy has been attracting attention and has become the solution that is expected to be more sustainable. This immense potential brings a new idea and innovation for automakers to adopt green technology by creating electric vehicles (EVs). Consequently, the electric vehicle industry has led many automakers, including Japan, to compete in order to dominate the market in Southeast Asia. As one of the longest-running automakers, Japan is unexpectedly left behind and surpassed by other competitors such as China and South Korea. This article aims to identify the policies and strategies Japan implemented to keep up with the competition. The descriptive qualitative method is used to analyse the concept of competitive advantage and government policies. The result shows that Japan implemented both economic and political strategies based on costs and differentiation, as a way to achieve its competitive advantage in the EVs market in Southeast Asia.

When the Deforestation Meets the Free Trade: A Critical Analysis of the European Union Deforestation Free Regulation (EU DFR)

2025-05-15T09:56:31+07:00

This article is written to provide an understanding for World Trade Organization members as European Union trade partners to respond to the EU Deforestation Free Regulation. In achieving that purpose, this article implements the normative method through the implementation of a doctrinal, cases, and conceptual approach. There are three discussions presented in this article. The first discussion express that the EU might violate the rules on non-discrimination under Articles I:1 and III:4 GATT, and the prohibition on quantitative restriction under Article XI:1 GATT. The second discussion expresses that the EU may violate Articles 2.1 and 2.5 TBT Agreement which prohibits the implementation of a discriminative technical regulation and the implementation which reflects an unnecessary barrier to international trade. Last but not least, the third discussion states that the EU may justify this measure based on the public moral, and the protection of human, animal, and plant life and health. The third discussion also expresses the finding of this paper which is that international cooperation can be utilized as an instrument that may address the conflict of interests caused by the implementation of the WTO law and the international environmental law.

Indonesia’s Infrastructure Gap: How Singapore and China Assisting Indonesia’s Economic Development in the Joko Widodo Era

2025-05-29T09:35:23+07:00

This paper aims to analyse the contribution of Singapore and China, the two most prominent investors, to Indonesia’s economic development. Since the 1950s and 1960s, Indonesia has engaged with both nations and experienced dynamic relationships. Since President Jokowi was elected (2014-2024), the relations between Indonesia, Singapore, and China have increased, involving both countries in most projects in Indonesia. We use the qualitative method in this research, utilizing primary and secondary data to ensure our argument. In our findings, we have at least three key points. First, we underline that the historical relationship between Indonesia, Singapore, and China is the foundation of their ties in the modern era. Second, as a rising power, China has started and continued its engagement in Indonesia, together with their investment. At this point, the Belt and Road Initiative is pivotal. Lastly, we underscore that Singapore’s contribution to Indonesia is gigantic, for example, how Singapore offered investment in Kendal. We conclude that Singapore and China played significant roles in improving Indonesia’s economic development in every aspect.

Addressing the Timber Trade Crisis Amidst the Pandemic: ASEAN Strategy within the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) from a Regime Transformation Perspective

2025-05-29T09:40:51+07:00

This article aims to explore how the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) is employed by member countries as an exit strategy to address the COVID-19-induced crisis, particularly focusing on the timber trade. The creation of ACRF, specifically in tackling the timber sector crisis, becomes intriguing due to the distinct impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on timber trade between VPA and non-VPA countries. This study delves into elucidating how the ACRF functions as a solution to the timber trade crisis among ASEAN member states. Utilizing a qualitative explanatory research method, the analysis reveals that VPA countries leverage the ACRF as a collaborative framework to rejuvenate the timber industry, considering it an essential tool to enhance their dominance in the ASEAN timber sector. The ACRF, deployed to address the timber trade crisis amid the pandemic, represents a strategic shift in ASEAN's regime transformation. Specifically, ACRF Strategy 3, focusing on Maximizing Intra-ASEAN Market Potential and Wider Economic Integration, particularly point 3.d, eliminating Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and reducing market-distorting policies is intricately linked to the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA).

The Blue Economy as Key to Coastal Development in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

2025-06-03T15:11:57+07:00

Small Island Developing States are economically dependent on tourism and fisheries, both of which are closely related to marine ecosystems and sustainable coastal development. The limitations of geographic remoteness and isolation from international markets place them at a disadvantage economically and socially, so a way out is needed to address the economy of Small Island Developing States by applying the blue economy. This study aims to provide a comprehensive explanation of the blue economy as the key to sustainable coastal development in Small Island Developing States. This research uses a qualitative method by using a literature review of several studies that have been conducted. Based on the research that has been done, it is found that the solution offered by the blue economy in handling the economy and coastal development is through its integration with the circular economy in managing waste by empowering organic waste from hotels and empowering coastal communities in creative economic development to be an effective way out for Small Island Developing States.