Abstract
The linkage between international trade regulation and sustainable development is increasingly evident in contemporary regional trade agreements (RTAs). The European Union (EU) has been at the forefront, advocating for the inclusion of trade and sustainable development (TSD) provisions in its regional trade agreements (RTAs) with trading partners, especially with two key Southeast Asian partners, which are Vietnam and Singapore. In contrast, ASEAN’s regional economic integration shows a noticeable absence of TSD concerns. This discrepancy points to differing levels of commitment to TSD provisions in RTAs. For AMSs (AMSs), adopting EU-style TSD provisions could either be welcomed or resisted, making it essential to understand the extent of the EU’s influence. Drawing from Brunnée & Toope’s ‘interactional international law’ perspective, the article examines the EU’s engagement and its influence on AMSs’ understanding of TSD. This article concludes that even if the EU views sustainability as a value to be promoted internationally, this does not necessarily mean that AMSs negotiating TSD provisions will adopt the EU’s approach verbatim. The agency of AMSs in resisting or adapting EU influence should not be overlooked. It is also important to note that some AMSs may incorporate sustainability considerations into their domestic policies, even in the absence of a cohesive ASEAN-level narrative or direct engagement with the EU on trade and sustainability.