The Trump administration’s S-E Asia policy: a new era of pressure and diversification

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025 has marked a dramatic shift in US relations with South-east Asia.

Central to the Trump administration’s South-east Asia policy has been its all-encompassing tariff regime, implemented as part of the president’s “reciprocal tariffs”. On “Liberation Day” (Apr 2), President Trump announced sweeping tariffs targeting every Asean member state, creating significant economic chaos across the region.

The tariff structure reflected the administration’s mixed approach to different South-east Asian countries. Cambodia faced the highest penalties at 49 per cent, followed by Laos at 48 per cent and Vietnam at 46 per cent. Thailand confronted a 36 per cent tariff, while Indonesia faced 32 per cent duties. Malaysia and Brunei each face 24 per cent tariffs, the Philippines 17 per cent, and Singapore 10 per cent.