In this context, this article is aimed at, amongst other things, identifying the
challenges and opportunities confronted by ASEAN-based MSMEs in taking
advantage of ASEAN’s FTAs. More specifically, it attempts to address the following
issues: (i) the extent to which ASEAN-led FTAs are being used by the region’s private
sectors, particularly MSMEs; (ii) policy and practical initiatives that have been pursued
by ASEAN and AMS to facilitate/support MSMEs in the region in utilizing existing
ASEAN-led FTAs more actively; (iii) policy and practical challenges and opportunities
confronted by ASEAN-based MSMEs to make more effective use of ASEAN-led
FTAs; (iv) key lessons that can be drawn from the experiences of other regions
and/or regional groupings in the world to facilitate greater use of their FTAs by
MSMEs; and (v) practical and policy recommendations that could be addressed to
relevant policy-makers and different stakeholders to allow the greater use of ASEANled
FTAs by the region’s MSMEs.