Why new US tariffs threaten Trump government’s credibility in Asean
A new wave of US tariffs that hit seven Southeast Asian countries is set to reinforce perceptions of Washington as an unreliable partner to the region, according to analysts. Citing what it said were forced labour practices uncovered in its latest investigations, the US on Thursday imposed levies ranging from 10 to 12.5 per cent on 60 economies – with the…
Why it matters: This matters because diplomatic sequencing often reveals alignment changes before force posture does. Southeast Asia often shows how middle powers hedge while still making consequential choices.