EU-ASEAN Business Council Calls for Stronger Action on Illicit Trade, Highlights India’s Strategic Role
The EU-ASEAN Business Council has released a report calling for stronger regional cooperation to combat illicit trade, which threatens economic stability and supply chains. The report highlights India's strategic role as a key dialogue partner in implementing better trade governance and intelligence sharing.
Why it matters
Illicit trade undermines government revenue and market integrity, making regional cooperation essential for economic security in Southeast Asia and India.
New Delhi, Delhi, India – Business Wire India
The EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) has called for stronger and more coordinated action to combat illicit trade, identifying it as a growing strategic economic risk to ASEAN’s long-term growth, public safety, and supply chain resilience. In its latest report, “Driving ASEAN Action Against Illicit Trade: A Strategic, Philippines’ Priority Economic Deliverables (PED)-aligned Blueprint for the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship” (the report) , the EU-ABC outlines a comprehensive prevention framework and underscores the role of ASEAN Dialogue Partners, including India, in addressing illicit trade across the region.
The report stresses that illicit trade poses serious threats to economic expansion, government revenues, consumer protection, and regional supply chain stability. It highlights the need for enhanced regional coordination under the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship in 2026.
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