If you talk about ASEAN, then it would not affect Laos that much in short term because we are still exempted from many agreements, especially tariff reduction. However, in the long rub, if Laos people do not adapt their businesses and increase theirown productivities and competitiveness, Laos' economy will be even worse and will even depend more on import of Thai and Chinese products.
I see one flaw of Laos government toward the competitiveness of the business in the country. It is that they try to use the nationalism patriotics to create the demand for local products which is not really create a real competitiveness. Therefore, after the open of trade, nationalism will not be able to use anymore due to the influx of many goods, and that eventually will make the Laos firms become devastated.
