President Donald Trump policies on imposing high import tariffs on China and other countries such as Canada and Mexico will give benefits for Indonesia, an expert said.
The US government's decision to impose punitive tariffs on major trading partners will impact Southeast Asia, and the region's export-dependent economy could face long-term repercussions, analysts said.
In terms of product type, latex rubber dominated exports to Malaysia, making up 76.5 per cent of the total rubber exports to this market in 2024.
Despite ongoing global trade tensions and tariff disputes, China reaffirmed its position as Cambodia’s leading Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by channelling nearly $550 million into the Kingdom’s industrial sector in January.
Singapore is not expected to be hit by trade tariffs from the United States, but still stands to be indirectly impacted as it is a small and open economy, said Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
Thailand remains the top regional dairy exporter, driven by strong demand from key markets, including Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Myanmar.
It is too early to determine whether the tariffs imposed by the United States on Canada, Mexico and China will harm or benefit Malaysia, said Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Analysts say the impact would be cushioned by other factors, but could worsen if more countries are targeted by US tariffs.
<p>Time: November 2025<br /> By: WTO and International Trade Group, Legal Department – VCCI</p>
