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 Thursd

AdvertisementAseanThis Week in AsiaEconomicsWhy new US tariffs threaten Trump government’s credibility in AseanThe additional duties come just a day after Marco Rubio tells Southeast Asian foreign ministers that the US is ‘with Asean 100 per cent’4-MIN READ4-MINSam BeltranPublished: 11:30am, 26 Jul 2026A 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 Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam the hardest hit among Association of Southeast Asian Nations members.
Malaysia, Indonesia and Cambodia were on the lower end of the scale as they were seen to have made more effort to strengthen enforcement.US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer said in a statement that the latest move would “correct what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice”.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (centre) arrives to attend a summit at the Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting in Pasay on Thursday.
Photo: AFPThe tariffs came just a day after Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Southeast Asian foreign ministers that the US was “with Asean 100 per cent” at a meeting for top diplomats in Manila also attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.On Friday, Kevin Kim, US ambassador to Asean, told reporters that Washington “is pursuing fair and reciprocal trade” but that he would defer to Greer on technical responses.AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.
8x0.9x1.0x1.
1x1.2x1.5x1.
75x00:0000:001.00x
Đọc thêm từ Tài chính


100 days to US midterms, Trump faces defeat amid voter anger over inflation, Iran war
One hundred days before the US midterm elections, President Donald Trump’s Republicans are staring down polling that points to the loss of the House of Representatives and a ferocious battle to retain the Senate. Trump will not appear on the ballot on November 3, but the stakes f


India aims for a 200-ship navy to counter China and Pakistan
India’s ambition to grow its navy past 200 ships within the next decade has taken on fresh urgency as China expands the world’s largest naval fleet and Pakistan adds advanced Chinese-built attack submarines, heightening New Delhi’s anxieties in the Indian Ocean. Analysts see this