Photo by Incomlend : https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/tariff-wars-understanding-impacts-crafting-winning-strategies-w4rwc In April 2025, as news of President Trump’s sweeping tariffs swept across Southeast Asia, the mood in bustling markets from Ho Chi Minh City to Jakarta shifted palpably (Stevenson, 2025). For millions of families, small business owners, and workers whose livelihoods depend on exports to the United States, the announcement felt like a sudden storm cloud over their futures. Photo By Nikkei Asia: https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade-war/Trump-tariffs/ASEAN-countries-struggle-to-resolve-Trump-s-divide-and-conquer-tariffs The U.S. tariffs imposed on ASEAN countries in April 2025 are as follows:Cambodia: 49 percentLaos: 48 percentVietnam: 46 percentMyanmar: 44 percentThailand: 36 percentIndonesia: 32 percentMalaysia: 24 percentBrunei: 24 percentPhilippines: 17 percentSingapore: 10 percent (baseline) (Medina, 2025) Cambodia’s garment workers, for example, faced the highest tariff-a staggering 49%. “We just want to work and provide for our families,” said one factory supervisor in Phnom Penh, “but now we worry if orders will dry up.” In Vietnam, where nearly 30% of GDP is tied to exports to the U.S., the anxiety was just as real. “We’ve worked hard to build these trade relationships,” shared a Vietnamese exporter, “and now everything feels uncertain” (Simon Hutagalung, 2025). But amidst these worries, ASEAN’s leaders projected calm and resolve. In a video conference on April 10, economic ministers from all ten member states gathered-not to plot retaliation, but to reaffirm their commitment to dialogue and partnership with the U.S. “We regard the U.S. as a longstanding and valued economic partner,” their joint statement read. “We remain committed to safeguarding ASEAN’s economic interests as well as maintaining strong and mutually beneficial trade relations with the U.S. (Strangio, 2025)” Instead of firing back with tariffs of their own,*ASEAN’s approach was measured and diplomatic. Vietnam’s leaders picked up the phone, engaging directly with Washington and offering to cut tariffs on American goods to zero in hopes of reciprocal treatment. Indonesia sent a high-level delegation, seeking solutions rather than confrontation. Even Cambodia, facing the steepest penalties, turned to the World Trade Organization for support rather than lashing out (Strangio, 2025). This spirit of dialogue was echoed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, ASEAN’s chair, who urged unity and calm. “We’ve weathered storms before,” he reminded his peers, recalling the Asian Financial Crisis and the U.S.-China trade wars. “Our strength is in our solidarity and our ability to adapt” (Simon Hutagalung, 2025). Yet, the human cost is not lost on anyone.Small businesses, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), are bracing for higher costs and fewer orders. “It’s not just numbers on a spreadsheet,” said a Thai SME owner. “It’s jobs, dreams, and stability for our families.” The ministers’ joint statement acknowledged this, warning that the tariffs “will disrupt regional and global trade and investment flows, as well as supply chains, affecting businesses and consumers worldwide, including those of the U.S. It will also impact economic security and stability, affect the livelihoods of millions of people in the region, and hinder economic progress in ASEAN, particularly less developed economies” (Simon Hutagalung, 2025). Looking forward, ASEAN is doubling down on regional integration-strengthening internal trade, boosting digital innovation, and exploring ways to make the Southeast Asian economy more resilient and less dependent on any single partner. “We will continue to work together more closely, with greater unity and solidarity,” their statement pledged, “to minimize the impact on our people, and continue to grow sustainably”. How are ASEAN countries planning to mitigate the economic impact of the tariffs. ASEAN countries are adopting a multi-pronged, pragmatic approach to mitigate the economic impact of the new U.S. tariffs, focusing on both immediate diplomatic engagement and long-term regional resilience. 1. Dialogue Over Retaliation ASEAN has collectively agreed not to retaliate with counter-tariffs. Instead, the bloc is prioritizing constructive dialogue and negotiation with the U.S., both at the bilateral (country-to-country) and regional (ASEAN-to-U.S.) levels. This dual-track approach aims to enhance ASEAN’s bargaining power and avoid escalating trade tensions (The Nation News, 2025). 2. Coordinated Regional Strategy Under Malaysia’s 2025 chairmanship, ASEAN is working towards a coordinated regional response. This includes: - Establishing the ASEAN Geoeconomics Task Force to monitor, assess, and propose policies in response to U.S. economic strategies. - Promoting public-private collaboration to adapt to new trade realities. - Exploring the development of a “tariff-free assembly zone” within ASEAN, leveraging existing free trade agreements to attract U.S. investment and maintain supply chain competitiveness (Medina, 2025). 3. Supply Chain and Economic Upgrades ASEAN is focusing on: - Upgrading logistics and customs to reduce costs and improve efficiency. - Prioritizing high-value sectors e.g., semiconductors, pharmaceuticals to move up the value chain and reduce reliance on low-margin exports vulnerable to tariffs. - Encouraging digital payment integration and deeper intra-ASEAN trade to buffer against external shocks (Medina, 2025). 4. Bilateral Negotiations Individual ASEAN countries are actively negotiating with the U.S. to seek tariff reductions or exemptions for key exports. For example: - Thailand has sent a high-level delegation to Washington and pledged to gradually reduce its trade surplus with the U.S. by increasing imports of American goods. - Vietnam and other affected members are engaging in direct talks to secure more favorable terms (Medina, 2025). 5. Time to Prepare The U.S. has postponed the implementation of the tariffs by 90 days, giving ASEAN countries additional time to prepare, negotiate, and adjust their economic strategies . In Summary: ASEAN’s mitigation strategy centers on diplomacy, supply chain upgrades, regional cooperation, and targeted negotiations, all aimed at minimizing economic disruption and maintaining stable trade relations with the U.S. (Strangio, 2025). References Medina, A. F. (2025, April 10). ASEAN's Unified Response to U.S. Tariffs. ASEAN Briefing. Retrieved May 10, 2025, from https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/aseans-response-to-u-s-tariffs-toward-a-unified-regional-strategy/ Medina, A. F. (2025, April 10). ASEAN's Unified Response to U.S. Tariffs. ASEAN Briefing. Retrieved June 4, 2025, from https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/aseans-response-to-u-s-tariffs-toward-a-unified-regional-strategy/ Simon Hutagalung. (2025). Turning The Tide: How ASEAN Can Outmaneuver US Tariffs In 2025 – OpEd. https://www.eurasiareview.com/06042025-turning-the-tide-how-asean-can-outmaneuver-us-tariffs-in-2025-oped/ Stevenson, A. (2025, April 4). Trump Took a Wrecking Ball to Southeast Asia's Role as an Alternative to China. The New York Times. Retrieved June 4, 2025, from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/business/trump-tariffs-vietnam-southeast-asia.html Strangio, S. (2025, April 11). ASEAN Expresses 'Concern' Over US Tariffs, But Seeks Dialogue. The Diplomat. Retrieved May 10, 2025, from https://thediplomat.com/2025/04/asean-expresses-concern-over-us-tariffs-but-seeks-dialogue/ The Nation News. (2025). ASEAN Ministers issue statement on Trump tariffs, favour dialogue. https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/news/asean/40048599
