Tariffs and Trust: How Washington's Move Undermines Its Credibility in Southeast Asia The US has imposed new tariffs on seven Southeast Asian countries, just a day after Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured regional foreign ministers that the US is "with Asean 100 per cent".
The move, citing forced labor practices and distortive trade practices, reinforces perceptions of Washington as an unreliable partner in the region. US trade policy remains mired in inconsistencies.
On one hand, Washington touts its commitment to fair and reciprocal trade with Asean nations. On the other, it imposes punitive measures that will inevitably hurt these same countries' economies.