Asia Economist and CEO, Centennial Asia Advisors

Manu Bhaskaran

Mr. Bhaskaran is a leading Asian economist based in Singapore with more than 30 years of experience in studying economic, political and security issues that shape the business environment in Asia. He co-ordinates the Asian business of Washington DC-based strategic advisory firm, Centennial Group, directing its Asian economic research practice which provides in-depth analysis of macro trends in Asia. He works extensively with investment institutions, government agencies and corporations. Mr. Bhaskaran regularly presents his views on the economic, political and business environment in Asia at business conferences and in-house briefings. He has conducted studies on a wide range of subjects including: consumer finance in Asia; Asian integration; regional and country-specific political and economic outlooks; the Impact of China on Asia; portfolio capital flows in emerging markets, amongst many others. He is as a member of the Regional Advisory Group for Asia and the Pacific of the International Monetary Fund. Mr. Bhaskaran is a regular columnist for The Edge (Singapore) and holds positions in think tanks including being Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS); Vice President of the Economics Society of Singapore, and Council Member of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA). Mr. Bhaskaran serves on the boards of CIMB Investment Bank and Japfa Limited.

Asia Economist and CEO

Global Trade: Japan Could Be Next as the US-China Trade Spat Escalates

RCEP: India Poses an Obstacle to Timely Conclusion of Trade Deal

Global Trade Outlook Still Clouded by US-China Jousting

Posturing by US and China Does Not Necessarily Raise Trade War Risks

World Trade: Step in Right Direction with US-EU Trade Rapprochement but Scepticism Remains

Global Trade: US-China Deadlock Continues but New Alliances Give New Life to Multilateralism

Centennial Asia Advisors

At Centennial Asia Advisors, we tell it like it is. We have no vested interests, no need for a China wall, and no reason to skew our outlook any other way. With over 30 years experience covering Asia’s political economy, you can be sure our conclusions and analyses are based on the unadulterated facts. Through years of fine-tuning our research methodologies, we deliver a quality of macroeconomic analysis few other houses can match.

Centennial Asia Advisors is an independent research and advisory firm that works with governments, multilateral institutions, financial firms and leading MNCs.

Economic Policy and Strategic Advisors

Macroeconomics

<p><strong>Impact on Asia remains murky despite apparent progress</strong></p><ul>
<li>There has been progress on the structural trade front, with an agreement between the US and Mexico even though Canada remained outside of the deal. RCEP negotiations made some progress while Malaysian PM Mahathir reaffirmed support for the epochal CPTPP. ASEAN continued to implement packages that would deepen integration and remove trade frictions, particularly in previous closed-off services sectors.</li>
<li>Despite some signs of progress, a long and bumpy road is ahead - several key problems remain for Asia as far as the global trading regime is concerned: <ul>
<li>Will US conclude that its bullying tactics work?</li>
<li>Will RCEP really be concluded by late-2018? The CPTPP looks to be a go on the other hand.</li>
<li>Supply chains likely to be restructured, amid growing trade frictions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Impact on Asia remains murky despite apparent progress
There has been progress on the structural trade front, with an agreement between the US and Mexico even though Canada remained outside of the deal. RCEP negotiations made some progress while Malaysian PM Mahathir reaffirmed support for the epochal CPTPP. ASEAN continued to implement packages that would deepen integration and remove trade frictions, particularly in previous closed-off services sectors.
Despite some signs of progress, a long and bumpy road is ahead - several key problems remain for Asia as far as the global trading regime is concerned: 
Will US conclude that its bullying tactics work?
Will RCEP really be concluded by late-2018? The CPTPP looks to be a go on the other hand.
Supply chains likely to be restructured, amid growing trade frictions.




Trade Tensions Will Continue to Undermine Confidence in Asia