This fascinating article, written by Andries (Zandre) Van Straten, seeks to explore the relationship between the members of ASEAN that are pursuing their own national interests and their reasoning behind eliminating regional trade barriers. The article also makes use of a study to determine the effects that the ASEAN members and the global power powers of the USA, China and Japan have had on the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). It is certainly interesting to learn that the AEC is flexible enough that it’s members will make use of it to gain bilateral agreements with the bigger economic powers.