Deborah Elms, a trade expert at the Heinrich Foundation, and Leong Wai Kit, a speaker specializing in U.S.-ASEAN relations, dive into the complexities of global trade under U.S. tariffs. They explore why countries still engage with the U.S. despite high levies, drawing parallels to historical trade policies like the Smoot-Hawley Act. The conversation touches on the challenges faced by businesses amidst inflation and uncertainty, as well as strategies ASEAN countries are adopting for economic integration in this shifting trade landscape.
