In a commentary, SMU Professor of Law Locknie Hsu discussed the promise that e-commerce holds for an Asean-US deal. She highlighted that e-commerce is a high-growth potential area which features prominently in Asean's economic integration plans, stressing that it can spur creation of jobs in manufacturing, digital services, transport and logistics. E-commerce promotes, and thrives on, innovation. US businesses can gain, and US (and other) jobs can be created or maintained, by focusing on this important area of common interest to the US and Asean economies.

Prof Hsu also cited examples of American e-businesses (such as Amazon and eBay) that are looking to the Asean market, given its growing affluence and digital connectivity. She said that perhaps it is time to consider a US-Asean e-commerce trade facilitation agreement which in time would evolve into a more comprehensive regional free trade agreement in accordance with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. Such an agreement could draw lessons from various agreements, including the WTO Agreement of Trade Facilitation, the United Nations Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific, and from the TPP provisions on e-commerce, trade facilitation and small and medium enterprises.