BFM 89.9
The Business Station
Copyright © 2025 BFM Media Sdn. Bhd. 200601017962. All rights reserved
Copyright © 2025 BFM Media Sdn. Bhd. 200601017962. All rights reserved
Divided We Fall? ASEAN Vs Trump Tariffs
35 mins·12:00, 22 Jan 2026
Divided We Fall? ASEAN Vs Trump Tariffs
35 mins
·
12:00, 22 Jan 2026
·
Recommended
35 mins
Podcasts
When Passion Gets Professional
26 mins
Guest: Dr Stewart Nixon (Director of Research), Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS)
Following President Trump’s "Liberation Day" announcement threatening ASEAN with up to 49% tariffs, IDEAS argues that the member states of the 600-million-strong bloc panicked. Vietnam and Cambodia rushed to cut deals immediately, and Malaysia eventually followed suit with the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), albeit after initial attempts to rally the region failed.
We sit down with Dr. Stewart Nixon, author of the report "Divided We Fall," to dissect why ASEAN chose self-preservation over solidarity and the potentially dangerous concessions buried in the fine print.
We discuss:
The "Panic" Discount: How Vietnam and Thailand’s rush to Washington sparked a regional "arms race" of concessions, handing leverage directly to Trump.
Section 5 & Sovereignty: The controversial clause in Malaysia's deal that links trade policy to US national security, effectively forcing Malaysia to police US interests against China within its own borders.
The "Transshipment" Trap: Why vague definitions of "circumvention" in the new deal create a compliance nightmare for manufacturers planning their supply chains.
Convenor vs. Captain: Why the ASEAN Chair failed to rally the troops, in stark contrast to the EU’s unified stand against Washington.
The Illusion of Safety: Dr. Nixon argues that buying "certainty" from Trump is a myth, citing how the USMCA did not protect Canada or Mexico from future tariff threats.
Presenter: Roshan Kanesan
Producer: Roshan Kanesan
Share:
Recommended
Jan 22
·
35 minsDivided We Fall? ASEAN Vs Trump Tariffs
Jan 22
·
26 minsWhen Passion Gets Professional
Recent episodes
0
Latest stories
Podcasts · Jan 22 · 4:00AM
Divided We Fall? ASEAN Vs Trump Tariffs
35 mins
Podcasts · Jan 22 · 35 mins
Divided We Fall? ASEAN Vs Trump Tariffs
Podcasts · Jan 22 · 3:00AM
The Cost of Quantum Risk: Why PQC Matters to the Future of Money
26 mins
Podcasts · Jan 22 · 26 mins
The Cost of Quantum Risk: Why PQC Matters to the Future of Money
Podcasts · Jan 22 · 2:00AM
When Passion Gets Professional
26 mins
Podcasts · Jan 22 · 26 mins
When Passion Gets Professional