CEBU, May 8 — Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong urged Asean leaders today to accelerate the ratification of regional petroleum and trade agreements as the Middle East conflict threatens energy supplies and food security.
He said Asia would be hardest hit by the crisis because of its dependence on energy and critical goods from the Gulf, according to CNA.
“Amidst this crisis, we must uphold Asean solidarity,” Wong told the plenary session of the 48th Asean Summit in Cebu.
Wong called for the swift ratification of the Asean Petroleum Security Agreement, last renewed in 2025, saying it would give member states more tools to respond to energy shocks.
He also urged faster progress on the Asean power grid, which would connect electricity networks across the region and allow countries to trade surplus power and share reserves.
“This will certainly help build stronger resilience against future supply disruptions and external shocks, while powering our region’s growth in a more sustainable manner,” he said.
On supply chains, Wong said intra‑Asean networks for critical goods such as food must be strengthened, noting that the bloc accounts for nearly 10 per cent of global agricultural exports.
He pressed for the ratification of the upgraded Asean Trade in Goods Agreement, signed in October 2025, which includes crisis provisions and reduces non‑tariff barriers to food trade.
The agreement sets out crisis provisions and commitments on essential goods trade, lowers non‑tariff barriers for food products, and promotes the exchange of food safety information.
“We all hope the crisis will end soon, but we have to be mentally prepared that the impact will be with us for some time,” Wong said.
He added that even if the Strait of Hormuz reopened immediately, repairs to damaged infrastructure would take months before goods could flow again.
Wong welcomed the Cebu Protocol, the first amendment to the Asean Charter, noting it reflects Timor‑Leste’s membership and said Singapore supports its chairmanship in 2029.
He also held separate meetings with Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, where discussions covered the Middle East conflict, Asean’s role, and Malaysia’s RTS Link project.
