The European Union is close to sealing a series of free trade deals with Southeast Asia. The EU and the Philippines have reached substantial agreement on their deal. It should be formally concluded in the coming months.

Indonesia has finished negotiations and aims to sign in October. Implementation is targeted for early 2027. Talks with Thailand have run for nine rounds since their 2023 relaunch.

Malaysia resumed negotiations in early 2025 after a 13-year pause. Both are expected to conclude by the end of this year or early 2027. If timelines hold, the EU will have deals with six of the 11 ASEAN states by mid-2027.

Agreements with Singapore and Vietnam are already in force. EU-Southeast Asia goods trade reached 274.9 billion euros last year. That is up about 6 per cent on the year and over 50 per cent since 2016.

The push is part of a wider EU effort to diversify trade ties. India has also multiplied its own free trade agreements in recent years. For exporters, the deals promise lower tariffs and clearer rules across a fast-growing region.