ARTICLES

29 May 2026

Section 301 Investigations on Thailand: Misguided Search for Excess Capacity

Juthathip Jongwanich

Thailand’s excess capacity is not due to policy-induced overproduction as the US claims. Tariffs based on excess capacity would be unfair to Thailand.

10 Apr 2026

The State of Southeast Asia 2026 Survey

Amid the Geostrategic Uncertainties, Firms Need the Reassurance of Business Continuity

Kristina Fong Siew Leng

Businesses today especially value stability and deeper economic integration to mitigate risk, and are more worried about growing US economic influence, as reflected in private sector responses to the State of Southeast Asia 2026 Survey.

Economy State of Southeast Asia Survey Trade

24 Mar 2026

Iran War Holds Trade Implications for Southeast Asia

Stephen Olson

The economic fallout of the war, coupled with Trump’s self-preservation instincts, could induce a partial climbdown on tariffs—but Section 301 and other tariffs are under way and might endure.

Tariffs Trade US

9 Mar 2026

The Supreme Court and Trump’s Tariffs: Restrained or Resurgent?

Stephen Olson

Fulcrum editor Lee Hwok-Aun speaks with Stephen Olson, Visiting Senior Fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, on the implications of the US Supreme Court declaring Trump’s IEEPA-based tariffs illegal.

Dialogues at Fulcrum Southeast Asia Tariffs Trade US

25 Feb 2026

Implications of the Supreme Court Tariff Ruling on Southeast Asia

Stephen Olson

The Supreme Court has struck down President Trump’s IEEPA reciprocal tariffs, but the practical outcome on Southeast Asia is likely to be negligible. Further complications arise from his reimposition of tariffs through other means and the potential political fallout in his party.

Tariffs Trade US

20 Feb 2026

The ART of Rescuing an Unintended Trade Deal While Safeguarding Malaysia’s Multilateralism

Jayant Menon

In signing the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, Malaysia has granted the US exclusive preferential terms. Malaysia would be better off voluntarily extending the same terms to all countries.

Malaysia Malaysia-US Relations Trade

28 Jan 2026

Clothed in Uncertainty: Southeast Asia’s Garment Exports and the US–China Trade Tensions

Archanun Kohpaiboon

The garment industry might come under US scrutiny for its high use of Chinese inputs. Countries should negotiate with the US administration for a reasonable and tempered approach to the transshipment question.

China Southeast Asia Trade U.S.

26 Dec 2025

2025 Top 10

Southeast Asia’s Economic Performance in 2024 and Outlook for 2025: Navigating Rising Risks

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.

2025 Top 10 Economy Southeast Asia Trade

1 Dec 2025

ASEAN’s Regional Ambitions for the Semiconductor Industry

George Tan|Maria Monica Wihardja

A new non-binding framework for relevant ASEAN member states to ramp up their semiconductor industries and supply chains has the potential to provide some relief against a darkening geopolitical outlook.

ASEAN Economic Integration Technology Trade

20 Nov 2025

Southeast Asian Countries Engaging in Export Circumvention: Not So Fast

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.

China Economy Southeast Asia Tariffs Trade U.S.