Just when you thought South-east Asia was on the threshold of a unique geoeconomic opportunity to soak up investments leaving China and from others seeking neutral venues amid the strategic tussle between Western nations and Beijing, it looks as though the economic crunch accentuated by the pandemic is spurring protectionist instincts instead, to the region's detriment.
To get a sense of this, look no further than the data on trade-related non-tariff measures (NTMs) put out by Cari, the CIMB Asean Research Institute.
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