The senior diplomat said countries were now “less willing to look at preferential trading arrangements” around the world, adding that beyond tariffs, the global economy faced other barriers in certification processes, export controls, weaponisation of finance, technology and digital infrastructure.
Doraiswami also pointed to a global trend of looking increasingly at “moving away from efficiency-first economics to security-first production”, with many pursuing “competitive advantage rather than comparative advantage” for a “unilateral self-reliant system”.

Different economies were reluctant to open up areas where they had shortcomings and often sought free trade in sectors where they were strongly positioned, Doraiswami said.

Don't Miss:
-
Can Singapore and Indonesia’s energy push kick-start regional power grid?
-
India to supply Indonesia with long-range missiles
-
Latest US political divide emerges: the age gap over whether China is cause for concern
-
Beyond payments: India aims to architect Indonesia’s digital future
-
What are the hidden Buddhist symbols in Chinese Da A Fu figurines

Who Killed Father Diệp — and Who Gets to Decide?
Duterte Impeachment Puts 2028 Race — and Philippine Institutions — on Trial
Clandestine State Pact Threatens Anwar’s Premiership