Southeast Asia’s Responses Split Over Trump’s August 1 Tariffs

Southeast Asia’s biggest exporters are responding differently under the newest U.S. tariff pressure.
Workers at a garment factory in Vietnam's Thai Nguyen Province on July 2, 2025. Southeast Asia’s biggest exporters are responding differently under the newest U.S. tariff pressure. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)

Southeast Asia’s biggest exporters are responding differently under the newest U.S. tariff pressure. Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia are pursuing divergent strategies to head off duties of up to 36%, set to begin August 1.

Donald Trump sent letters to 14 countries, mainly in Asia, informing them that higher import tariffs will come into effect on August 1 unless they reach a deal with the United States.

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by Edwin Shri Bimo

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