Executive Briefing | Who's driving free trade in the region? | Asia Society Skip to main content
  • Back to asiasociety.org
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
    • Global Live Webcasts
    • Asia Briefing LIVE
    • Executive Briefings
    • Arts, Culture and Diversity
  • Initiatives
    • Asia Society Policy Institute in Australia
    • Southeast Asia and COVID-19 Project
    • Asia Taskforce
    • China Executive Briefing
    • Viet Nam Report
    • Distinguished Fellowships
    • Scholar-In-Residence
    • Gen A
    • Culture Club
  • Disruptive Asia
  • News and Analysis
    • Latest News and Analysis
    • Briefing MONTHLY
    • Looking Ahead
    • Webcasts and Videos
    • Asia Briefing UNWIRED
  • Members
    • Become a Member
    • Our Members
  • Partners
    • Our Partners
  • Support Us
    • Support Asia Society Australia
    • Donate now
    • Planned giving
  • About
    • About Asia Society Australia
    • Our Programs
    • Our People
    • Our Board and Advisory Council
    • Careers and Internships
    • Contact Us
Australia
Search
asiasociety.org
Australia
Search
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
    • Global Live Webcasts
    • Asia Briefing LIVE
    • Executive Briefings
    • Arts, Culture and Diversity
  • Initiatives
    • Asia Society Policy Institute in Australia
    • Southeast Asia and COVID-19 Project
    • Asia Taskforce
    • China Executive Briefing
    • Viet Nam Report
    • Distinguished Fellowships
    • Scholar-In-Residence
    • Gen A
    • Culture Club
  • Disruptive Asia
  • News and Analysis
    • Latest News and Analysis
    • Briefing MONTHLY
    • Looking Ahead
    • Webcasts and Videos
    • Asia Briefing UNWIRED
  • Members
    • Become a Member
    • Our Members
  • Partners
    • Our Partners
  • Support Us
    • Support Asia Society Australia
    • Donate now
    • Planned giving
  • About
    • About Asia Society Australia
    • Our Programs
    • Our People
    • Our Board and Advisory Council
    • Careers and Internships
    • Contact Us

Executive Briefing | Who's driving free trade in the region?

In responding to disruptive forces, it is important that debate avoids dwelling on the past and looks to the future

Robert Milliner

Ellis Cowan/Asia Society

SYDNEY, Asia Society Australia in partnership with King & Wood Mallesons proudly hosted Mr Robert Milliner, Senior Adviser, International Affairs at Wesfarmers Limited, Senior Adviser at UBS and Senior Adviser to the Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Commerce, for a roundtable luncheon event as part of our ‘Business of Asia’ series.

Following the Trump administration's decision to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, doubts have emerged around the future of free trade in the region. Mr Milliner briefed guests on what implications these events may have for the region and offered advice on what Australia can to do navigate this uncertain environment. 

Citing confusion of the liberal world order, disruption led by the fourth industrial revolution  and a rising preference for bilateralism over multilateralism as contributing factors to this shifting free trade landscape, Mr Milliner took guests through the strengths and weaknesses of global institutions like the WTO and APEC and gave a comprehensive breakdown of the regional trade agreements that are currently on the table, as well as the players pushing each agreement. This included the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the China-backed Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). 

Following his briefing, Mr Milliner participated in a question and answer session with event guests. 


Asia Society Australia’s Executive Briefings are a curated series of meetings presented by diplomats, business leaders and subject matter experts from Asia and Australia. Designed to offer a deep dive into the critical issues of the day, to an audience of senior executives from the business, political, educational and cultural institutions that make up the Asia Society network.


This event was generously hosted by King and Wood Mallesons.


 

We Know Asia,
Get to Know Us

Visit Us

  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas

Global Network

  • Australia
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC

Resources

  • Arts
  • Asia Blog
  • ChinaFile
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • For Kids
  • Policy
  • Video

Shop

  • AsiaStore

Initiatives

  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Young Leaders
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Center for Global Education
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • China Learning Initiatives
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Learning Beyond School
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • Int'l Studies Schools Network
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit

About Asia Society

  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement

Connect

  • Email Signup
  • For the Media

©2021 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | About AsiaSociety.org | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC