Introduction

Although ASEAN was established primarily for the purpose of intraregional co-operation, the need to develop external relations with developed countries emerged in the early 1970s in the field of trade and commodities. It was during this time that ASEAN was prompted to take collective action vis-a-vis its major trading partners on pressing international economic issues — one related to the effects of synthetic rubber on ASEAN exports of natural rubber to Japan, the other on tariff preferences on ASEAN-sourced products from the European Union. Consequently, at UNCTAD IV in 1976, ASEAN participated actively in the establishment of the Integrated Programme of Commodities and took effective collective approaches to promote member countries' interests in the Association of Natural Rubber-Producing Countries as well as in the International Tin Agreement.

At the First ASEAN Summit Meeting in Bali in 1976, the ASEAN Heads of Government affirmed the importance of establishing relations with third countries and reflected this in the Declaration of ASEAN Concord. In a specific provision, the Declaration states that the principle of ASEAN co-operation on trade shall also be reflected on a priority basis in joint approaches to international commodity issues and other world economic problems such as the reform of the international monetary system, and the transfer of real resources, with a view to contributing to the New International Economic Order. The Declaration calls upon member states to give priority to the stabilization and increase of export earnings of those commodities produced and exported by ASEAN through commodity agreements, including bufferstock schemes and other means.

The principles of ASEAN external relations contained in the Declaration of ASEAN Concord were confirmed at the Second ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur in 1977. The following years saw the establishment of dialogue relations with the EU, Australia, and New Zealand. Relations with Japan, Canada, and the United States followed subsequently. Dialogues with the EU and Canada were formalized through the signing of Co-operation Agreements in 1980 and 1981, respectively. In addition to its major trading partners, ASEAN also accorded dialogue partner status to the UNDP, the only multilateral agency that provides regular and substantial technical assistance to ASEAN.