The determinants of the European Union’s selective approach to trade sanctions in Southeast Asia

The European Union (EU) has recently emerged as a promoter of human rights in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) through social and material trade sanctions. Yet, it used different trade measures in reacting to human rights violations, according to a partner. This paper investigates the reasons for such a selective approach. It finds evidence in support of the thesis that while ideational factors seem to have a low predicting potential, trade and security interests are strongly correlated with the level of interference adopted by the EU on the domestic affairs of the single ASEAN partners. More specifically, security alignment seems to supersede any commercial considerations when it comes to the adoption of punishing trade measures on ASEAN members. The paper leads to the conclusion that ASEAN countries have become increasingly relevant catalysts of EU foreign policy interests and that security strategies have strongly conditioned the role of the EU as a human rights promoter through trade in the region.