Ms. Stephanie Wong specializes in ASEAN trade policies and regional economic integration matters. She assists multinational corporations, trade associations and government agencies to better understand and utilize the free trade agreements (“FTAs”) negotiated by ASEAN. These include the ASEAN-China FTA, ASEAN-Korea FTA, ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership, as well as the proposed ASEAN-India FTA and ASEAN-European Union FTA. She also works with clients to capitalize on cost savings available via existing preferential trading and investment schemes under the ASEAN Free Trade Area (“AFTA”) such as the ASEAN Common Effective Preferential Tariff (“CEPT”) Scheme, ASEAN Industrial Cooperation (“AICO”) Scheme, and ASEAN Integration System of Preferences (“AISP”) Scheme. In addition, Ms. Wong advises clients on matters pertaining to customs valuation, post-entry audits and classification rulings.

Ms. Wong was seconded to the Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore in 2007/2008 where she was Senior Assistant Director in the Trade Division (ASEAN). She was the lead negotiator representing the Singapore Government at various ASEAN economic meetings, and was involved in ASEAN FTA negotiations with China, India and the European Union (“EU”) on Rules of Origin. She was also involved in policy issues concerning customs, trade facilitation and ASEAN Dispute Settlement Mechanism.

Ms. Wong was a former Senior Officer at the International Enterprise Singapore (“IE Singapore”, previously known as the Singapore Trade Development Board). She was involved in regional meetings of the ASEAN Task Force on Rules of Origin, ASEAN Senior Economic Officials and ASEAN Economic Ministers, among others, and helped to formulate Singapore’s policy positions on several trade issues. She was also the desk officer for the Philippines and assisted Singapore-based companies in exploring business opportunities in the country.

Prior to joining Bryan Cave International Trade, Ms. Wong was at White & Case LLP.

Select Representations

• Prepared a strategy paper for BAT Vietnam which analyzed Vietnam’s obligation to liberalize trade in tobacco and tobacco products under AFTA.

• Provided advocacy services to BAT Vietnam on the options and opportunities available to the Vietnam Government under AFTA as well as ASEAN Plus FTAs – with regard to the tobacco industry.

• Examined possibility of utilizing the AICO Scheme to obtain CEPT concessions of 0-5 percent for cut rag, wrapping materials and finished products between Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam.

• Worked on study to identify specific issues of concern to BAT Vietnam, assess Vietnam’s obligations under various trade agreements in relation to those issues, and suggest way forward for BAT.

• Assisted BAT in successfully applying for CEPT concessions for the export of various brands from Singapore to the Philippines and Thailand.

• Participated in creating a database of preferential tariffs under FTAs involving 21 countries in the Asia-Pacific region for BAT.

• Responded to ad-hoc queries from BAT Malaysia regarding developments in ASEAN.

• Advised an automotive company on exporting to Indonesia using the CEPT Scheme and applying for Certificate of Origin (Form D).

• Assisted BAT Thailand in defending its CIF values of five cigarette brands (Pall Mall, Dunhill, London, Lucky Strike and John Player’s Special) to the Thai Customs Department.

• Assisted BAT Taiwan in justifying the import prices of the entire range of products imported into Taiwan, after a downward revision of import prices was made to help BAT Taiwan improve its market share.

• Provided timely intelligence on and analysis of developments in the areas of trade, customs, FTAs and investment in ASEAN and selected ASEAN countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) specifically relevant to BAT.

• Seconded to the Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore as Senior Assistant Director of the Trade Division (ASEAN).

• Lead negotiator representing the Singapore Government at the ASEAN Task Force on Rules of Origin, ASEAN Coordinating Committee on the Implementation of the CEPT Scheme for AFTA, and ASEAN-Mekong Basin Development Cooperation Steering Committee.

• Led the Singapore delegation in negotiating the comprehensive ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (“ATIGA”), which will replace the existing Agreement on the CEPT Scheme for AFTA.

• Involved in ASEAN-China FTA, ASEAN-India FTA and ASEAN-EU FTA negotiations on Rules of Origin.

• Involved in policy issues concerning customs, trade facilitation and ASEAN Dispute Settlement Mechanism.

Education

• B.Sc., (Hons) in Building, National University of Singapore.

Languages

• English, Mandarin.