What Southeast Asia Should Expect from Trump in 2026
Derek Grossman
Trump chalked up some notable wins in Southeast Asia in 2025. But doubts remain over his approach to the region, given his reciprocal tariffs and trademark unpredictability.

Derek Grossman
Trump chalked up some notable wins in Southeast Asia in 2025. But doubts remain over his approach to the region, given his reciprocal tariffs and trademark unpredictability.
2025 Top 10
Jayant Menon
The region is finally showing clear signs of recovery from the multi-year pandemic but 2025 portends more serious headwinds against which regional governments and businesses will have to steer.
Marco Kamiya
Urbanisation in Southeast Asia is now one of the region’s most powerful yet under-recognised industrial policy tools. Urban planners and economists need to work together to unlock the potential of the region’s cities.
Archanun Kohpaiboon|Ratchanon Ketramrit
The Trump administration has threatened to levy an additional 40 per cent reciprocal tariffs on transshipments to the US. The logic for doing this is not so clear cut.
Derek Grossman
The Trump administration’s recent overtures to Southeast Asia had some silver linings. But Washington risks long-term harm to its regional reputation with its transactionalism.
Surachanee Sriyai
In seeking to shape the public information space, some governments have resorted to digital repression. But these instruments come with the danger of overreach.
Jayant Menon
Amid the gloom brought about by the US’ reciprocal tariffs, there appears to be a glimmer of hope for Asian exporters.
Angel Hsu|Silvia Landa
The US government has withdrawn globally from climate and clean energy engagement, undermining prospects for clean energy and climate collaboration with Southeast Asia. On the flipside, China’s historic climate-related finance in the region has far outpaced that of the US, particularly in infrastructure-heavy projects. While the loss of US climate finance may not be detrimental in the near-term, it does undermine the region’s support of environmental governance, and civil society and institutional capacity to pursue its climate efforts.
Marco Kamiya
Southeast Asian economies and other Asian countries are grappling with tremors in industrial structures due to tariffs and supply chain disruptions. It would be helpful to revisit the Flying Geese model to understand industrial transformation and development.
David Lam
For all the recent excitement around stablecoins, they bring significant risks that warrant proactive policy responses.