Southeast Asia—U.S.–ASEAN Partnership Program

The U.S.–ASEAN Partnership Program is a five-year initiative that strengthens the ability of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote economic growth and address shared challenges. Aligned with the ASEAN–U.S. Leaders’ Joint Vision Statement, the program advances cooperation under the ASEAN–U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to build a safer, stronger, and more prosperous future. Its priorities include trade facilitation, digital transformation, resilient supply chains, cybersecurity, and transnational security, while reinforcing ASEAN Centrality and U.S. strategic interests.

Based at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, the Partnership Program works through a consultative approach with the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN Member States via relevant ASEAN bodies. Annual work plans are reviewed by the ASEAN Project Management Team and approved by the Project Steering Committee, ensuring that activities reflect shared ASEAN–U.S. priorities and commitments. Through this approach, the program facilitates trade and investment, expands regional digital economic opportunities, supports responsible critical minerals development, and strengthens cooperation on transnational security challenges.

Sample Activities

• Modernize trade systems through the ASEAN Single Window (ASW). Since 2006, U.S. assistance has supported ASEAN in developing and expanding the secure exchange of electronic trade documents. All ASEAN Member States except Timor-Leste have participated in live ASW operations since 2019, exchanging the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement electronic Form D, the ASEAN Customs Declaration Document, and—among Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand—electronic phytosanitary certificates. From 2018 to 2025, ASEAN traders saved an estimated $11.5 billion, while electronic certificates of origin reduced transaction time by nearly three days. U.S. support is now helping advance ASW 2.0 through updated legal and technical frameworks, a system gap analysis, technical specifications, private sector feedback, and public-private cooperation.
• Strengthen digital security and expand market access. The Partnership Program fosters public-private collaboration to promote trusted U.S. technologies, support secure digital transformation, and expand opportunities for U.S. digital firms in ASEAN’s growing market.
• Advance responsible minerals cooperation and resilient supply chains. The Partnership Program supports the ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Action Plan IV and the ASEAN Minerals Development Vision to strengthen governance frameworks and facilitate U.S. investment and partnerships that benefit both ASEAN and the United States, including continued support for the ASEAN Minerals Investment Forum.
• Enhance ASEAN’s ability to combat cyber and transnational threats. The Partnership Program strengthens the cyber capabilities of the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Computer Emergency Response Team and—with the U.S. private sector—supports real-time threat intelligence sharing and coordinated action to disrupt online scams.