Editor’s Note (May 2026): This article has been updated to reflect recent tariff developments and current trade policy considerations for U.S. exporters exporting to Singapore.
For exporters considering business opportunities in Southeast Asia, the best approach to finding excellent business partners is a regional approach. The ten countries that comprise the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Burma (Myanmar), Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam—are open for business and improving in integration.
In this article, I’ll look at the history of U.S. trade with the ASEAN member states; the process of exporting there, including documentation and compliance requirements; and the benefits and considerations for U.S. companies looking to break into the Southeast Asia marketplace.
A relatively new group, the ASEAN was created in 1967 by foreign ministers from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The ASEAN declaration established a cooperation among members in the region; spelled out the economic, social, cultural, technical, and educational aims and purposes of the association; and declared the promotion of regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter.
ASEAN represents a market with a GDP of nearly $4 trillion and a population of about 678 million people. Trade between the United States and ASEAN has expanded rapidly, with total goods and services trade reaching about $571.7 billion in 2025, including roughly $123.5 billion in U.S. exports to the region.
Because ASEAN is not one country, but a group of member states, policy can pose barriers to U.S. trade or investment. U.S. exporters may experience the following challenges in one or more ASEAN member states:
Global supply chain diversification and geopolitical trade tensions have reshaped the region’s role in international trade. Many multinational companies have expanded manufacturing in countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand as they diversify supply chains across Southeast Asia.
Additionally, the Burmese military’s surprise coup in 2021 caused enormous damage to the country’s growing economy and social stability; sanctions and new restrictions on exports and reexports to Burma are also currently affecting both the member state and the region. Political instability in Myanmar continues to affect trade and investment in the country, and U.S. sanctions remain in place against many military-linked entities.
For exporters willing to do the research and work needed to understand the region, the potential rewards of exporting to ASEAN may outweigh challenges exporters face. Exporters should identify and cultivate business opportunities while building a strategy to minimize the risks. New investment in ASEAN economies is driven by current trade growth in sectors including semiconductors and electronics manufacturing, renewable energy, digital infrastructure and cloud services, and artificial intelligence and data centers.
As identified by the ITA, attractive service sectors for U.S. exporters include the following for each country:
If you’re interested in exploring export opportunities in this region, there are plenty of resources you can lean on for help, including U.S. Commercial Service offices, trade missions, and chambers of commerce.
U.S. Commercial Service Offices
One of the first places to consider are your local and in-country U.S. Commercial Service offices. Commercial Service in-country offices effectively serve as your business partners in ASEAN member states—boots on the ground in the country. Commercial service offices also include representation by an agent, distributors or partners who can provide essential local knowledge and contacts that are crucial to your success.
You can learn more about in-country offices in our article, Tapping into the U.S. Commercial Service's In-Country Offices.
District Export Councils (DECs)
DECs across the country help exporters by supporting trade and services that strengthen individual companies, stimulate U.S. economic growth, and create jobs. DEC members also serve as mentors to new exporters and provide advice to smaller companies.
Sponsored by state and local trade offices as well as commercial service offices, trade missions offer introductions to important contacts and networking opportunities. Check into them.
International Trade Administration
The ITA is an excellent resource to help you combat trade problems. ITA staff members are resident experts in advocating for U.S. businesses of all sizes. They customize their services to help solve your trade dilemmas as efficiently as possible. Plus, the ITA makes it easy to report a problem, allowing you to submit your report online.
Chambers of Commerce
Chambers of Commerce may also be a resource when exporting to ASEAN member states. You can learn more about various chambers and how they can help smooth the way for your export activities in our article, The Chamber of Commerce Role in Exporting.
Accurate export documentation and attention to procedures are as critical in exporting to ASEAN as they are for exporting to any other country. An import license is not needed to import the majority of industrial goods into member states, but importers may need to obtain permits to clear the goods.
Many ASEAN countries now use electronic customs filing systems, and exporters should ensure that documents include accurate HS classification codes and digital certificates of origin when required.
It’s important to understand the regulations covering exports to ASEAN member countries, especially export controls. Especially when exporting to Burma, export compliance must be top of mind for exporters.
The first step in ensuring export compliance is determining who has jurisdiction over your goods: the U.S. Department of Commerce under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) or the State Department's International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
If your goods fall under the jurisdiction of the Commerce Department—which most products do—you must determine if your export requires authorization from the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS, part of the Commerce Department). To make that determination, first answer the following questions:
There are three ways to classify your products for export controls: You can self-classify your products, submit a SNAP-R request for a ruling, or rely on the product vendor to provide the information. If you’re self-classifying, Shipping Solutions Product Classification Software makes the process easier than manually searching through codes and regulations. You can give it a try for free here.
By classifying your product correctly, you’ll be protecting yourself from potential fines, penalties and even jail time.
Next, companies must use the ECCN codes and reasons for control described above to determine whether or not there are any restrictions for exporting their products to specific countries. Once they know why their products are controlled, exporters should refer to the Commerce Country Chart in the EAR to determine if a license is required.
Although a relatively small percentage of all U.S. exports and reexports require a BIS license, virtually all exports and many reexports to embargoed destinations and countries designated as supporting terrorist activities require a license. Countries fitting that bill are Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria.
Part 746 of the EAR describes embargoed destinations and refers to certain additional controls imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Treasury Department.
Shipping Solutions Professional export documentation and compliance software includes an Export Compliance Module that uses the ECCN code for your product(s) and the destination country to tell you if an export license is required. If indicated, you must apply to BIS for an export license through the online Simplified Network Application Process Redesign (SNAP-R) before you can export your products.
There are export license exceptions, like low-value or temporary exports, that allow you to export or reexport, under stated conditions, items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) that would otherwise require a license. These license exceptions cover items that fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce, not items controlled by the State Department or some other agency.
Surprise! You may be an exporter without even knowing it! Deemed exports, or the disclosure of information or services rather than an actual product, is an important issue to pay attention to when exporting. A deemed export occurs when technology or source code (except encryption and object source code, which is separately addressed in the EAR, is released to a foreign national within the United States.
Sharing technology, reviewing blueprints, conducting tours of facilities, and other information disclosures are considered potential exports under the deemed export rule and should be handled accordingly. You can learn how to apply this principle here.
Restricted party lists (also called denied party lists) are lists of organizations, companies or individuals that various U.S. agencies—and other foreign governments—have identified as parties that one can’t do business with. There are several reasons why a person or company may be added to a restricted party list. For example, they may be a terrorist organization or affiliated with such an organization; they may have a history of corrupt business practices; or they may otherwise pose a threat to national security.
Restricted party screening (or denied party screening) refers to the process in which a company checks a potential customer or business partner against one or more of the restricted party lists to ensure their potential partners are legally accepted. The primary restricted party lists in the United States are published by the Department of Commerce, Department of State, and Department of Treasury. However, several other agencies produce lists as well. These agencies recommend that companies perform restricted party screening periodically and repeatedly throughout the movement of goods in the supply chain.
When exporting to ASEAN member states, it’s imperative you check every single restricted party list every time you export because:
Shipping Solutions Restricted Party Screening Software makes it fast and easy to check hundreds of lists at once, and it provides detailed information about potential matches, so you can make an informed decision about what to do next. Give it a try for free.
If you’re considering exporting to ASEAN, Shipping Solutions export documentation software can help you quickly create the necessary documents and stay compliant with export regulations. Register for a free demo of Shipping Solutions software to see how it will revolutionize the way you’re currently creating your export paperwork.
ASEAN has become one of the fastest-growing regions for international trade and investment. With nearly 700 million consumers and a rapidly expanding middle class, the region offers significant opportunities for exporters in sectors such as manufacturing equipment, technology, energy infrastructure and healthcare.
Shipping to the ASEAN countries and other global markets involves more than simply moving products from point A to point B. Exporters must navigate complex regulations, documentation requirements and tax systems—often with little margin for error.
GLOBAL GATEWAY by Shipping Solutions brings everything together in one place. This all-in-one export management service combines expert compliance support, integrated export documentation and discounted international shipping in a single streamlined solution.
Whether you’re just beginning to export or already shipping worldwide, Global Gateway works like an extension of your logistics team—without the added overhead.
You don’t need to master every detail of international trade to succeed globally. You just need the right partner.
Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to learn how we can support your exports.
This is one in a series of articles exploring exporting to specific countries across the globe—we previously featured China, the United Kingdom, Japan, Mexico, Canada, India, Brazil, Germany, France, the Netherlands, the EU, South Korea, Singapore, Belgium, Taiwan, and Australia.
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