The BRICS group wrapped up its two-day leaders’ summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday. The summit’s final communique is a 16,000-word doorstop that covers numerous issues from economics to education.
The communique avoids any direct mention of the United States, and references to “unilateralism” and other coded criticism are also relatively scarce. Rather, the communique keeps the focus on the BRICS’ vision of the strengthening and reform of the global multilateral system ...
Category: Tariffs
Q&A: Indonesia’s Ex-Chief Negotiator Warns ASEAN of Trump’s U.S. “Tariff Trap”
The U.S. tariffs regime is exposing fractures in Southeast Asia’s trade posture. When Indonesia’s former chief trade negotiator, Iman Pambagyo, looks at the region’s response to the latest wave of U.S. tariffs, his message is clear: Southeast Asia cannot afford to keep falling for Trump’s tariff trap. ...
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. 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, ...
The Key Question in Vietnam: Is “Made in China” the Same as “Made by China?”
Manufacturers in Vietnam are still digesting last week's announcement by the United States that the Southeast Asian country will be subject to a 20% tariff for all locally-made exports and a 40% duty on all transshipments, presumably from China. The problem, ...
How the U.S. and China Misread Southeast Asia in the Tariff War
Southeast Asia is not the world's workshop or a passive trade partner. As the U.S.-China tariff war escalates, the region is asserting a new kind of agency, trade independence rooted in national interest. Economies like Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia, at the end of the day, choose ...
Southeast Asia Digest: Caught Between U.S. Tariff and China Shadow
This is a free preview of the upcoming Southeast Asia Weekly Digest, part of the new CGSP Intelligence service launching in Summer 2025. This week in Tariff Negotiations with the U.S.:
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
Thailand in Last-Minute U.S. Talks as 36% Tariff Looms
With just days left before the deadline, Thailand is urging the United States to cap new reciprocal tariffs on Thai goods at 10%, as Bangkok races to avoid steep increases that could climb as high as 36%. Thailand’s Finance Minister ...
Indonesia Submits Second U.S. Tariff Offer Amid China Warning
Indonesia has filed a second proposal to the United States Trade Representative in a bid to avert steep reciprocal tariffs threatened by the Trump administration, just days before the July 8 deadline. The decision marks Jakarta’s latest move in a ...
China, U.S. Ink Rare Earth Deal; More Trade Pacts Coming
The United States and China have signed a long-awaited framework agreement aimed at restarting rare earth mineral shipments and easing trade tensions ahead of a critical July tariff deadline, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed this week. The deal, finalized ...
Singapore PM’s China Visit: U.S. Tariffs Destabilizing Global Trade
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has warned that rising protectionism and unilateral tariffs, particularly those imposed by the United States, are a concern. He warned of the risk of destabilizing global trade and disproportionately harming smaller, export-dependent economies. In an interview ...
Where U.S. Tariff Talks Stand with Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand
The U.S. is ramping up pressure on Southeast Asia to curb the flow of Chinese-made goods rebranded through regional supply chains, with all four key countries scrambling to finalize bilateral concessions ahead of a July 8 tariff decision. Vietnam and ...
U.S. Tariff Pressure Mounts as China Exports Hit Southeast Asia
The United States is pressuring Vietnam to reduce reliance on Chinese technology in its exports to the U.S. market ahead of a July 8 tariff deadline, as redirected Chinese goods flood Southeast Asia and drive record trade deficits across the region, and fuel both internal economic pressures ...
In a Swipe at the U.S., China Removes Tariffs for Nearly Every African Country
China will remove all trade tariffs on imported goods from 53 African countries in a move that starkly contrasts with U.S. President Donald Trump's pro-tariff agenda. Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced the policy on Wednesday at the conclusion of a gathering ...