| As the USA continues to weather an economic | | | | dividends in a Pan-Asian context. |
| downturn and those around the world watch as the | | | | As was the case of the predecessor agreements |
| Peoples' Republic of China becomes an increasingly | | | | preceding the formation of the EU in Europe, the |
| assertive player in global economics there are those | | | | Member States of the Association of Southeast |
| who wonder: What Will America's Role be in | | | | Asian Nations (ASEAN) adhere to certain agreed |
| Southeast Asia? | | | | upon regulatory frameworks for trade and |
| It seems increasingly self-evident that Southeast Asia | | | | commercial activity within the member states' |
| is poised to reassert its role as a regional center in | | | | combined trading region. This type of legal |
| trade, finance, and communication. However, a | | | | framework is highly conducive to American service |
| Southeast Asian market represents an interesting | | | | providers accustomed to working within western |
| geopolitical triangulation of Chinese and American | | | | regulatory frameworks in an international context. |
| economic and political interests. While some | | | | Although, some of the jurisdictions in the ASEAN |
| Americans fear a rising China, the socio-economic | | | | community lack the more subtle nuance of the |
| possibilities are enormous. This statement is especially | | | | "common law" legal tradition, this should not be |
| true when one considers the economic opportunities | | | | viewed as a negative since many nations have |
| which are daily being presented to American | | | | enacted legislation or participate in trade agreements |
| businesses in the form of so-called "long tail" | | | | which provide significant benefits to investors and |
| consumer demand for products and services in | | | | business interests trading within their jurisdiction. |
| increasingly niche markets. Simply put: the internet | | | | Thus, American and international service providers |
| has created an increasingly effective and efficient | | | | could find substantial advantages in conducting |
| medium for conducting international and | | | | business in many of the jurisdictions in Southeast |
| inter-jurisdictional trade while the economies of scale | | | | Asia. |
| which can be achieved in areas such as the service, | | | | In an American context, Southeast Asia poses a new |
| manufacturing, and industrial sectors are astounding | | | | set of challenges to American business interests, but |
| when one considers the incredible untapped | | | | if these challenges are dealt with properly, they can |
| resources in Asia. By resources this author not only | | | | create incredible opportunities for those firms willing |
| implies natural resources, but also labor, service, | | | | to take strategic risk. |
| industrial, manufacturing and professional resources as | | | | This author frequently refers to the "Other Special |
| well. The potential for western style service | | | | Relationship" when speaking about US-Thai relations. |
| economies in and around the continent of Asia | | | | The word "special" should not be misinterpreted to |
| abound. What is even more appealing to many is the | | | | imply anything other than a unique bi-lateral state of |
| fact that such a scenario equates to a mutually | | | | affairs which engenders a great deal of cross-cultural |
| beneficial socio-economic relationship between multiple | | | | understanding and trade. The Thai and US |
| Southeast Asian markets which will likely result in | | | | socio-economic apparatuses have always found a |
| collateral dividends in markets already benefiting the | | | | certain degree of harmony when operating in |
| United States' economic interests thereby providing a | | | | tandem. These economic synergies have lead to |
| compounded overall benefit to the American | | | | opportunities and revenues which are not always |
| economy. | | | | found in other economic relationships. As the United |
| The United States of America boasts tremendous | | | | States continues to struggle with economic |
| advantages over virtually ever country in the world in | | | | turbulence, Thailand also must overcome political |
| terms of infrastructure, security, and most especially: | | | | turbulence in an effort to find a sort of political |
| innovative technologies. Couple this fact with the | | | | equilibrium within Thailand and within the context of |
| economic potential of China and the trade potential | | | | the ASEAN community. This author fully believes that |
| of a Chinese-Asia/Pacific-USA trading relationship and | | | | the United States of America and the Kingdom of |
| one is left with only one question: will this happen, | | | | Thailand have the capacity to weather the |
| and if so what are the benefits? This author's opinion: | | | | temporary storms of political-economic uncertainty |
| it already has happened, but business interests in the | | | | and build a bridge to a multilateral system of trade |
| United States should act with more alacrity in order | | | | which will result in benefits for the people of Thailand, |
| to position themselves in the most favorable trade | | | | the United States, China, and the ASEAN community. |
| and commercial position vis-à-vis the Association of | | | | This belief stems from close analysis of Thai and US |
| Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) community and | | | | history as both nations have proven capable of |
| China. To quote the popular British film Layer Cake: | | | | adhering to the rule of law in difficult times and |
| "The art of good business is being a good middle | | | | making rational political and economic decisions which |
| man." Americans could certainly take a page from the | | | | provide universal benefits in terms of trade and |
| British book with regard to trade relations as such a | | | | commerce. |
| strategy is likely to provide increasingly profitable | | | | |