Resilient Expansion: Southeast Asia in the Face of GEOPOLITICS

The global trade landscape underwent a transformation due to the impactful decisions made by U.S. president Donald Trump. His implementation of tariffs starting August 1st led to significant disruptions in established trade ties between nations, affecting various economies worldwide. Despite the initial shock, analysts from Macquarie indicate that global trade’s resilience has been a notable feature since then. One unexpected beneficiary of these tariff changes has been the Southeast Asian economies. By adopting transshipping as a strategy to mitigate tariff expenses, many Chinese exporters rerouted their goods through ASEAN countries before exporting them to the U.S. In 2025, the repercussions…