Insights from Recent OECD Trade Facilitation Indicators Trends Facilitating Tradein the Associationof Southeast Asian Nations INSIGHTS FROM RECENT OECD TRADEFACILITATION INDICATORS TRENDS This work is issued under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD, and does not necessarily reflect theofficial views of OECD Member countries. This document, as well as any data and map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty overany territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area. The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use ofsuch data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements inthe West Bank under the terms of international law. OECD (2026),Facilitating Trade in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations: Insights from Recent OECD Trade FacilitationIndicators Trends, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/71254407-en. Photo credits:Cover © Felix_Fotos/Shutterstock.com. Corrigenda to OECD publications may be found at: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/support/corrigenda.html.© OECD 2026 Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. By using this work, you accept to be bound by the terms of this licence(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Attribution– you must cite the work.Translations– you must cite the original work, identify changes to the original and add the following text:In the event of any discrepancy between the original work and thetranslation, only the text of the original work should be considered valid.Adaptations– you must cite the original work and add the following text:This is an adaptation of an original work by the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed inthis adaptation should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD or of its Member countries.Third-party material– the licence does not apply to third-party material in the work. If using such material, you are responsible for obtaining permission from the third party and forany claims of infringement.You must not use the OECD logo, visual identity or cover image without express permission or suggest the OECD endorses your use of the work.Any dispute arising under this licence shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Arbitration Rules 2012. The seat of arbitration shallbe Paris (France). The number of arbitrators shall be one. Foreword Today, the movement ofgoods across borders is more than a logistical exercise–it is the backbone ofthe everyday functioning of economies worldwide. Efficient border procedures support the flow of essentialinputs into production networks; they allow firms, especially smallerones, to participate in regional andglobal markets; they underpin the resilience of supply chains; and they help consumers access a widerrange of products. At the same time, the demands placed on border systems have increased. Traders expect fast, reliable,andtransparent procedures,while governments must safeguard security,ensure compliance withregulatory requirements, and respond to rising expectationsfor digital service delivery. These competingpressures can create bottlenecks, increase trade costs, and impact competitiveness–particularly inregions where capacities and systems differ. The challenge for policymakers is therefore to design tradefacilitation environments that are both efficient and trusted. ASEAN has made strong strides in this direction. Recent years have seen significant progress in enhancingtransparency, embracing digital tools, and strengthening border agency co-operation. Many ASEANMember States have modernised customs procedures, introduced electronic documentation, and investedin risk-based systems that speed up clearance for compliant traders. Regional initiatives such as theASEAN Single Window, the ASEAN Customs Transit System, the ASEAN Tariff Finder, and the newAuthorised Economic Operator arrangements are enabling more predictable, secure, and connected tradeacross the region. As highlighted by the OECD Trade Facilitation Indicators (TFIs), these efforts havealready helped reduce border complexities by an average of 6% since2022. However, progress has not been uniform. Differences in the maturity of automation systems, the alignmentof risk management frameworks, and the degree of interoperability between border agencies continue toinfluence the pace of reform across ASEAN. In some areas, regulatory commitments have yet to fullytranslate into operational practice. These gaps matter: they shape the experience of traders, determinethe effectiveness of regional instruments, and influence the overall resilience of ASEAN supply chains. To sustain the benefits of int