20250415 AM ASEAN tariffs and US exports image

As a net importer from China and net exporter to the U.S., ASEAN finds itself hemmed in by the trade war between the world's two largest economies. (Illustration by Yoshiko Kawano)

ASEAN struggles to boost regional trade amid Trump tariff threat

U.S. policy renews urgency to deepen economic ties within Southeast Asian bloc

TSUBASA SURUGA, NORMAN GOH, ISMI DAMAYANTI and MAI NGUYEN

April 15, 2025 06:00 JST

SINGAPORE/KUALA LUMPUR/JAKARTA/HANOI -- When U.S. President Donald Trump hit ASEAN nations with tariffs averaging 33%, it exposed the vulnerability of the region's success as a global production hub.

At a regional meeting last week in Kuala Lumpur, leaders sought to demonstrate unity. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, this year's ASEAN chair, said the world is "witnessing the fraying of the global order."