Trump’s Southeast Asia Trade Deals Are in Limbo
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- Malaysia formally nullified its tariff agreement with the White House in March, becoming the first Southeast Asian country to end the deal.
- U.S. Supreme Court ruled in February that Trump lacked legal authority for the “Liberation Day” tariffs, prompting the cancellation.
- Section 301 investigations now target six Southeast Asian nations—Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia—for alleged forced‑labor and overproduction violations.
- Vietnam was singled out as a priority for a Section 301 probe on intellectual‑property enforcement.
- Indonesia was placed on a watchlist for potential forced‑labor and overproduction violations under Section 301.
- Trump warned nations not to alter existing agreements as his administration pursues sector‑specific tariffs and other economic pressure tools.
Why it matters: U.S. exporters lose a foothold as six Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia, face Section 301 probes; the fallout will trigger higher tariffs and shrink market access for American firms.
