ASEAN Secretariat bulletin notes signing of ACFTA 3.0 Upgrade Protocol and describes key compliance themes (digital economy, green economy, facilitation)

An ASEAN Secretariat 'ASEAN for Business Bulletin' (December 2025 edition) reports that the ACFTA 3.0 Upgrade Protocol was signed on 28 October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur and describes high-level elements relevant to compliance planning, including customs/trade facilitation and modernization, digital economy provisions (e.g., e-commerce and paperless trade themes), green economy cooperation, MSME enablement, and efforts to streamline technical standards and SPS approaches. Organizations trading under ACFTA should monitor entry-into-force steps and any implementing guidance affecting customs documentation, digital trade processes, and standards/SPS-related compliance.