In this large scale ISEAS study Razeen Sally looks at Southeast Asia in the World Trade Organization against the background of national trade policy trends post Asian crisis sluggish ASEAN economic integration and the recent high speed proliferation of bilateral and regional trade negotiations ASEAN co operation in the WTO has broken down with little prospect of revival Nevertheless Sally argues forcefully that Southeast Asia needs a liberal rules based multilateral trading system and that the WTO needs active Southeast Asian participation ASEAN countries should forge multiple coalitions revolving around the United States and China to restore workability and purpose to a lame crisis ravaged WTO This would provide headwind for what matters most unilateral national trade and investment liberalization and pro competitive regulatory reforms to revive and enhance policy competitiveness in the region