ADB, ADBI, and ASEAN Secretariat Promote ADR as a Solution for Trade Disputes

On 8 October 2025 in Langkawi, Malaysia, ADB and the ADB Institute (ADBI) organized a workshop on alternative dispute resolution (ADR) for officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) who are involved in trade, investment, and dispute settlement. 

Through lectures and role-play exercises facilitated by international ADR experts Rajesh Sharma and Dorieke Overduin, the participating government officials explored applying ADR principles and techniques—notably conciliation and mediation—to resolve state-to-state trade disputes within the region. For example, they discussed how to handle disputes arising from non-tariff barriers under the upgraded ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA).

The ASEAN Secretariat had sought support from ADB and ADBI to organize this workshop alongside the 33rd meeting of the ASEAN Trade Facilitation Joint Consultative Committee, recognizing ADR as a flexible, cost-effective, and non-adversarial tool for resolving trade barriers and disputes among ASEAN member states. 

This workshop is part of the broader efforts of the ADB and ADBI to raise awareness of ADR in the region. Both institutions have a joint initiative to cultivate a new generation of ADR practitioners in Asia and the Pacific.