The ASEAN Members' Response to Trump's Liberation Day

This research paper by Poppy S. Winanti analyzes the responses of ASEAN member states to unprecedented U.S. tariffs imposed starting in April 2025. The author details how countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand have prioritized pragmatic negotiation and market diversification over retaliation due to their heavy export reliance on the U.S. market, while Singapore has adopted a cautious wait-and-see approach.

• Since April 2025, the U.S. government has imposed unprecedented tariffs on ASEAN nations, leading most member states—specifically Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia—to prefer negotiation over retaliation because of their heavy reliance on the U.S. export market. Singapore has taken a "wait-and-see approach" due to its moderate dependence.
• The severity of U.S. tariffs varies by country, often linked to trade surpluses. Vietnam faced the highest tariffs at up to 46%, followed by Thailand at 36%. Malaysia faced tariffs exceeding 24%, while Singapore's tariffs were relatively lower at approximately 10% because it maintains a trade deficit with the U.S.
• ASEAN nations are employing four primary strategic responses: conducting individual bilateral negotiations with the U.S., developing a unified regional strategy (led by Malaysia as the 2025 ASEAN chair), diversifying export markets through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and BRICS, and implementing domestic precautionary measures.
• Specific national mitigation efforts include Indonesia's willingness to increase U.S. energy imports and its domestic reforms to address non-tariff barriers; Vietnam's offers to purchase more Boeing aircraft and agricultural goods; and Thailand's implementation of a USD 15 billion stimulus package for its economy and small and medium-sized enterprises.

APA

Winanti, P. S. (2025). The ASEAN Members' Response to Trump's Liberation Day. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/policy-analysis/asean-response-trump-liberation-day

Chicago

Winanti, Poppy S. The ASEAN Members' Response to Trump's Liberation Day. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2025. https://www.iisd.org/articles/policy-analysis/asean-response-trump-liberation-day.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Winanti |first1=Poppy S. |title=The ASEAN Members' Response to Trump's Liberation Day |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=28 July 2025 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/policy-analysis/asean-response-trump-liberation-day |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{winanti2025asean, author = {Winanti, Poppy S.}, title = {{The ASEAN Members' Response to Trump's Liberation Day}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/policy-analysis/asean-response-trump-liberation-day}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }