Jayant Menon Journalist Profile

Articles

The known unknowns of Trump’s reciprocal tariff proposal | East Asia Forum

1 month ago | eastasiaforum.org | Jayant Menon

As the 2 April 2025 deadline approaches, it remains unclear whether Trump’s product-by-product tariff matching policy will create fairness or increased costs, implementation nightmares and potential trade wars.
ASEAN’s Indo-Pacific vision in troubled waters

Sep 4, 2024 | eastasiaforum.org | Abdul Rahman Yaacob |Genevieve Donnellon-May |Maria Monica Wihardja |Jayant Menon

The July 2024 East Asia Summit’s statement reinforces ASEAN’s vision to implement the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). But the AOIP faces significant challenges from two major trends that could alter its relevance in the region — the proliferation of minilateral defence arrangements and economic fragmentation. The AOIP advocates for ASEAN’s pivotal role in regional cooperation and decision making.
Integrating Southeast and South Asia through regional institutions

Aug 20, 2024 | eastasiaforum.org | Jayant Menon |Anthony Milner |Fangli Hu |Jun Wen

Southeast and South Asia are two of the most dynamic and fastest growing regions in the world. Yet despite their proximity and commercial relations that date back centuries, trade and investment growth between the two have remained mostly in the single digits in modern times. One reason for this is that while most Southeast Asian countries are active participants in global supply chains, most South Asian countries are not.
How Much of Vietnam’s Policy Reform is due to FTAs?

Jul 10, 2024 | fulcrum.sg | Jayant Menon

Vietnam is one of the most successful stories of economic transition in Asia, if not the world. In the span of three decades, Vietnam has transformed from an isolated, centrally planned agrarian economy into a dynamic manufacturing and services hub deeply connected to global supply chains. The doi moi (renovation) reforms initiated in 1986 provided the foundation for the shift.
Policies to Increase the Inclusiveness, Resilience and Sustainability of Economic Growth in Cambodia

Jun 24, 2024 | fulcrum.sg | Jayant Menon

INTRODUCTIONIn many ways, Cambodia is Asia’s true miracle economy. It was only three decades ago when the Paris Peace Agreements were signed, ending the civil war that ensued following the ouster of the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime in 1979. In just over a generation, Cambodia has built up its economy and institutions almost from scratch, and transformed itself into a modern, thriving economy. Although many challenges remain, these achievements should be recognised and bode well for the future.
Regional Institutions Should Step Up to Integrate South Asia with Southeast Asia

Jun 19, 2024 | fulcrum.sg | Jayant Menon

Southeast and South Asia are two of the most dynamic and fastest growing regions in the world. Despite their proximity and commercial relations that date back centuries, trade and investment growth between the two have remained mostly in the single digits in modern times. One reason for this is that while most Southeast Asian countries are active participants in global supply chains (GSCs), most South Asian countries are not.
2024/39 "Policies to Increase the Inclusiveness, Resilience and Sustainability of Economic Growth in Cambodia" by Jayant Menon

May 30, 2024 | iseas.edu.sg | Jayant Menon

To realise its aspirations to become an upper middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050, Cambodia has to pursue inclusive growth that is also sustainable and resilient. This is the type of growth that generates decent and sustainable jobs in the manufacturing and services sectors, and fair and sustainable returns for the self-employed, in the formal and informal sectors. A key constraint is the lack of diversification of the economy.
Australia’s energy transition collides with Japan’s energy security

Mar 26, 2024 | eastasiaforum.org | Shiro Armstrong |Erin Murphy |Jayant Menon |Kelly A. Grieco

Australia powers Japan, literally, supplying more than one third of its energy needs. For decades, Japanese investment in energy projects and Japan’s energy purchases have helped build Australian prosperity. But that’s been in fossil fuels and the bilateral economic relationship will need a total transformation as both countries pursue transition to net zero emissions by 2050. The transition is not off to a good start.
The export-led model is evolving, not dying

Mar 24, 2024 | bangladeshpost.net | Jayant Menon

While the rise in anti-globalisation sentiment may have preceded COVID-19, the pandemic reinforced it, leading to an increase in protectionism in East Asia and around the world. Many pandemic-era barriers to labour mobility have been slow to come down and, in some countries, have not been completely reversed.
The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework’s uncertain future

Mar 24, 2024 | eastasiaforum.org | Erin Murphy |Jayant Menon |Walter Brenno Colnaghi |Liam Gammon

As last week’s virtual IPEF ministers’ meeting in Thailand reminded everyone, negotiators for the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) face an uphill battle to fully conclude the framework and implement key agreements before the US presidential election in November to ensure its durability.