Thailand is working to increase trade with its neighbors, betting that their rising purchasing power will cushion the blow from exports lost to the US-China trade war, Nikkei Asian Review reports. Thailand has set up a Joint Border Trade Committee, or JBTC, with Myanmar to reduce paperwork and smooth logistics at border crossings and expecting to launch similar initiatives with other Southeast Asian countries. President Donald Trump said he’s ready to strike a deal with China on trade, potentially ending a protracted tit-for-tat tariff battle, but he also threatened to impose more tariffs if Beijing does not satisfy his demands. While the trade war may curb Southeast Asia’s export performance, the region is seeing a boom in foreign direct investment as companies shift production to the region.