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Indonesia's exporters face mounting pressure from US tariffs and competitors enjoying lower duties and cheaper operating costs. Policymakers warn that without securing tariff exemptions and reducing domestic business costs, the nation risks losing market share in labour-intensive industries.
New US Section 301 tariffs will have limited immediate impact on Southeast Asian exporters due to broad exemptions, but uncertainty over ongoing investigations and future measures keeps trade risks elevated across the region.
Australian PM Anthony Albanese has committed to raising tariff concerns with US President Trump at all levels of bilateral engagement, rejecting Washington's forced labour allegations and describing the measures as unjustified.
Southeast Asian nations navigate significant economic and political challenges, from airline consolidation in Indonesia to supply chain repositioning in Vietnam, amid shifting regional dynamics.
Malaysia has been assigned to the lower tariff bracket under US Section 301 measures, facing a 10% duty instead of 12.5%. The country's commitment to forced labour prevention laws influenced the decision.
Singapore joins 45 countries facing a new 12.5% US tariff following a White House investigation into forced labour compliance. About one-third of Singapore's exports to America will be affected by the measure.
The United States has announced additional tariffs of 10 to 12.5 per cent on 60 trading partners, including Malaysia, for inadequately enforcing bans on goods produced with forced labour. The action marks a significant shift toward unilateral enforcement.
The United States has finalised tariffs of up to 12.5 percent on South Korea, Japan and dozens of other trading partners over forced labour concerns, following investigations into 60 economies.
The US Federal Communications Commission has voted to prohibit the sale of devices containing key hardware components from Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE, tightening restrictions that previously allowed component-based workarounds.
A senior economic adviser to Prime Minister Modi has argued that India should significantly deepen economic engagement with China by welcoming more investment and reconsidering its rejection of regional trade agreements, citing concerns about US reliability.
Malaysia is actively negotiating with Thailand to lift a nine-year ban on Malaysian shrimp exports and secure approval for livestock products market access, Agriculture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said.
India has enacted a ban on importing goods manufactured through forced labour, aiming to shield itself from threatened US tariffs of up to 12.5 per cent. The policy takes effect after 30 days.
The United States is reshaping the G20 agenda ahead of the December summit in Miami, pushing negotiators to remove references to poverty reduction, energy transition and gender issues while emphasising immigration, trade and security concerns.
Malaysia's Ministry of Domestic Trade has revoked diesel purchase restrictions in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan effective July 1, aligning with new MyKad-based subsidy verification at petrol stations and standardised RM2.10 per litre pricing.