Kicking them while they are down: the phrase aptly illustrates what U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff bomb does, or is about to do, to Indonesia’s economy, which has been down for quite some time. In 2024, according to the Ministry of Manpower, as many as 77,965 workers were laid off.Continue Reading
China’s paramount leader Xi Jinping arrived in Malaysia on April 15 for talks with key leaders, once again attempting to capitalize on the negative regional reaction to U.S. President Donald Trump’s punitive tariff regime. Xi arrived in Malaysia yesterday evening from Vietnam, and was officially welcomed at the Istana NegaraContinue Reading
When U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his tariff plan to the world a few weeks ago, Southeast Asian countries were especially hard hit, with tariffs ranging from 18 percent on the Philippines to nearly 50 percent on Cambodia. Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos were looking at tariffs of betweenContinue Reading
President Xi Jinping has called for China and Vietnam to develop stronger economic and trade ties, as both nations seek to shore up core economic relationships in the face of the Trump administration’s recently announced tariffs. Xi arrived in Hanoi yesterday for a two-day state visit, part of a regionalContinue Reading
Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to deepen his country’s strategic partnership with Indonesia, ahead of a regional tour that will take him to three Southeast Asian nations this week. According to a report by China’s state news agency Xinhua, Xi spoke with President Prabowo Subianto yesterday by phone toContinue Reading
Vietnam says that it is prepared to crack down on the fraudulent transshipment of Chinese goods via its territory, Reuters news agency reported today, as the two nations begin negotiations on a reciprocal trade agreement. During his “Liberation Day” announcement on April 2, U.S. President Donald Trump hit Vietnam withContinue Reading
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has expressed its concern about the punitive U.S. tariffs announced last week, but says that it will seek dialogue rather than retaliating against the American move. The 10-nation bloc, which was hit particularly hard by the “reciprocal” tariffs announced by Trump on AprilContinue Reading
The Trump administration unveiled its much-anticipated tariffs on most of the world last week – and they make about as much sense as you would expect. Countries will see tariffs on exports to the United States ranging from 10 to almost 50 percent. Southeast Asia has been particularly hard hit.Continue Reading
The geopolitical shock of Trump’s second presidency has gripped Australia – but it was a long time coming. China’s rise has upended our strategic environment. The war in Ukraine showed the contours of a world in which might is right. Trump 2.0 has marked the arrival of the new worldContinue Reading
On April 2, in a pre-signalled move, the Trump administration announced a sweeping 10 percent tariff (effective from April 5) on all countries exporting goods to the U.S., and “reciprocal tariffs” on more than 60 countries (effective from April 9) that are accused of applying unfair tariffs on American exports.Continue Reading
