The ASEAN Members' Response to Trump's Liberation Day

Since April 2025, the United States has imposed high tariffs on several ASEAN nations, leading these countries to prioritize negotiation and diversification over retaliation. While Vietnam and Thailand faced the highest tariffs (up to 46% and 36% respectively), most members are balancing individual bilateral talks with a coordinated regional response led by Malaysia as the 2025 ASEAN chair. Strategies include increasing U.S. imports of energy and aircraft, leveraging the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and implementing domestic stimulus packages, such as Thailand's USD 15 billion fund, to protect local industries.

• ASEAN member states have generally avoided retaliatory measures in favor of negotiation and a 'wait-and-see' approach due to their heavy export reliance on the U.S. market. Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia prefer negotiations, while Singapore has adopted a cautious stance given its moderate dependence and trade deficit with the U.S.
• U.S. tariffs vary significantly across the region, with Vietnam facing the highest rates at up to 46%, followed by Thailand at 36%, and Malaysia at over 24%. In contrast, Singapore faces relatively lower tariffs of approximately 10% because it maintains a trade deficit with the U.S.
• Individual member states are using specific trade concessions to negotiate lower tariffs: Indonesia is offering to increase imports of U.S. fuel, crude oil, and liquefied petroleum gas, while Vietnam is offering to purchase more Boeing airplanes and agricultural goods and lowering tariffs on U.S. automotive products and liquefied natural gas.
• To reduce vulnerability to a single market, ASEAN countries are pursuing market diversification through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), enhancing intraregional trade, and engaging with BRICS. Indonesia has recently joined BRICS, while Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are partner countries.
• Governments have implemented domestic protections to mitigate economic shocks, including a USD 15 billion stimulus package in Thailand for small and medium-sized enterprises, and the creation of specialized task forces in Singapore and Vietnam to support affected industries.

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} }