In light of Trump’s tariffs, what’s next for Asean giants in their quest for breakthrough growth?

[SINGAPORE] South-east Asian economies know a thing or two about resilience.

Asean weathered the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the 2007-2008 global financial trouble, the 2013 “taper tantrum”, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the 2022 interest-rate shock – all while holding its own as a key growth driver for Asia.

In particular, the Philippines and Vietnam – the bloc’s growth stars – have beaten expectations with prints that headline South-east Asia’s economic expansion.