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Indonesia's export competitiveness faces dual pressure from US tariffs and elevated domestic production costs, with regional competitors potentially gaining ground. Experts call for targeted trade negotiations and structural economic reforms.
Although US Section 301 tariffs will have a muted near-term impact on ASEAN exports thanks to extensive product exemptions, geopolitical uncertainty and ongoing trade probes pose sustained risks to the region's exporters.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has committed to confronting US President Donald Trump over newly imposed tariffs, insisting Canberra will pursue the matter across all diplomatic channels.
Singapore is now subject to a 12.5 per cent US tariff on roughly one-third of its American-bound exports, imposed under a forced-labour investigation. The move signals escalating trade friction and potential cascading duties.
Indonesia is actively negotiating with the US Trade Representative's office to obtain lower tariffs after Washington imposed a 10 per cent duty on Indonesian goods as part of its Section 301 investigation into forced labour in supply chains.
Malaysia has begun facing a 10% tariff on exports to the United States following Washington's determination that the country has not fully enforced forced labour import restrictions, despite maintaining legal prohibitions. The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry says it will continue diplomatic engagement.
Brazil has rejected Washington's decision to impose 12.5 per cent tariffs on its products, claiming the forced labour investigation is a pretext for protectionism. Brasília is pursuing dispute settlement at the WTO.
Singapore has been targeted with a 12.5 per cent tariff by the Trump administration following an investigation into forced labour practices. The levy affects a significant portion of exports to the US and reflects broader tensions in global trade policy.
The ringgit strengthened against most major currencies on Friday but weakened against the US dollar as new American trade protectionist measures unsettled regional markets.
The Trump administration has announced tariffs ranging from 10 to 12.5 percent on South Korea, Japan and numerous trading partners, alleging insufficient efforts to prevent forced labour imports.
India has enacted legislation to prohibit imports of goods manufactured using forced labour, a preemptive measure aimed at averting steep US trade tariffs currently under investigation.
Malaysia's manufacturing federation has appealed to the US to apply Section 301 tariffs selectively, warning that blanket duties risk penalising compliant firms and destabilising regional supply chains integral to global electronics production.