The businesses that adapt early to engage China, India and Asean will help draft Asia’s next chapter and profit from it Kishore MahbubaniandSteven Okun Published: 4:30pm, 15 Sep 2026Updated: 5:21pm, 15 Sep 2026 The ending of the American century is coinciding with an Asian renaissance. America remains the world’s largest economy and will stay that way for another decade or two. But its economy no longer dominates the world. And its “America first” policy has partners and alli

President Donald Trump offered voters a quid pro quo, saying elect Republicans and get a $5,000 payout, which he called the Trump dividend. Trump's announcement was met with skepticism, with some seeing it as a desperate attempt to motivate voters and others predicting it will backfire, particularly given the US debt at record levels. “Independents and swing voters will see this as a ploy and not a solution to the their affordability problems. That’s why this will backfire,”

Guest: Steven Okun (CEO), APAC Advisors The US and Canada have one of the world's most deeply integrated trading relationships, but tariff threats and tensions over sovereignty have pushed the two neighbours into an escalating trade war. Steven Okun, Founder & CEO of APAC Advisors, discusses how the negotiations broke down and what this means for the future of USMCA and the world.

Artificial Intelligence’s environmental, workforce, consumer and governance risks already belong in existing risk and disclosure systems. Companies waiting on a Responsible AI policy are ignoring the obvious. By Steven Okun and Megan Willis, Noemie Viterale Companies exempting artificial intelligence (AI) from their existing governance system take a great and unnecessary risk in doing so. As companies race to integrate AI across their operations, they do so with the twin goal

The most credible messengers are the companies and investors who profit from the Republic’s success every day For decades, the US prized partners that upheld the rule of law, kept markets open and met high standards on trade and investment – making Singapore the natural choice for its first Asian free trade agreement partner. Singapore’s values and commitments to the US have not changed.\ For the US, that calculus has shifted as those values are not priorities of an “America

Asia is simultaneously racing to decarbonise and navigating some of the most volatile geopolitics in decades. The ongoing Gulf conflict has exposed the vulnerabilities of the region’s energy system, by way of import dependence, limited fuel diversification and concentrated supply routes, compounding existing pressures from grid bottlenecks, regulatory uncertainty and weak investment signals. Yet, the transition remains underway. Renewable energy capacity continues to expand,

Trade, once central to Donald Trump’s political rise, could turn against him and the Republican Party in the 2026 midterms. Tariffs, the war with Iran, and uncertainty over USMCA are moving trade front and center this year, especially in trade-exposed states, potentially helping Democrats reclaim the House and possibly the Senate. Steven Okun and Noemie Viterale “It’s the economy, stupid,” a phrase from Bill Clinton’s winning 1992 Presidential campaign, epitomizes how economi

Current U.S. politics, foreign policy, and global trade dynamics intersect to create complex international ramifications. Steven Okun, founder and CEO of APAC Advisors Singapore, discussed how the fragmentation of global trade is reshaping Asia’s economic and geopolitical landscape.

International Feature: Trump's Family Wealth Soars During His Second Term, Raising Concerns About Using Public Power for Private Gain President Trump's wealth has skyrocketed during his second term, with his companies making numerous overseas investments, sparking a storm of speculation. Although he claims his businesses are now managed by his son, the overlap between policy-making and family interests renders the US's political recusal mechanisms ineffective. When public pow

The Democratic Party bench is deep and an answer to who its nominee is won’t emerge until much later. Steven R. Okun and Thurgood Marshall Jr Published Jun 27, 2026, 05:00 AM Last week, former US first lady Michelle Obama took the stage at the Obama Presidential Library – and within hours, speculation began once more about whether she might finally enter the race for US president. It is a ritual by now. Each rare occasion she gives a speech, Democrats swoon. Few people connec

As featured in Eco-Business, June 24, 2026 AI governance is no longer a technology department problem. It's a boardroom imperative — and most companies aren't treating it that way. That's the view Steve Okun, Founder and CEO of APAC Advisors, shared in a recent Eco-Business feature on AI's mounting societal risks in Singapore. His core argument: the risks AI brings cut across every geography, sector, and stakeholder group, and nearly every business now plays a role in shaping

Journalism in a World of Obsolete Geopolitical Assumptions There is no "trade truce" between the US and China. That was Steve Okun's opening line — and he meant every word of it. Steve returned for his annual session with the National Press Foundation's International Trade Reporting Fellowship, speaking to 25 journalists from across Asia on geopolitics and trade. The message was clear: too many stories are still being told through a lens that no longer reflects reality. Three

Why does this matter so much for Asian economies? The closure of the strait of Hormuz provided a “stark wake-up call” exposing the region’s vulnerability, according to a report released by the International Energy Agency (IEA) last week. Before the crisis, 60% of south-east Asia’s imports of crude oil and a third of its imports of gas came from the Middle East, according to the IEA. The region’s energy import bill is projected to reach $160bn this year – double the $80bn bill

While the US and Chinese markets are essential, other countries are making deals with each other in search of more diversified trade Steven Okun and Kellie Meiman Hock Published: 8:30pm, 18 Jun 2026 As US President Donald Trump rebuilds the tariff wall the country’s Supreme Court knocked down, the headlines fixate on each individual block. With the global 10 per cent tariff initially levied in response expiring on July 24, the Trump administration is preparing to replace it b

Steven Okun, CEO of APAC Advisors, joined Sri Jegarajah on CNBC's Inside India to break down what the U.S.-Iran MOU means for energy markets, trade routes, and investors across the region. The U.S.-Iran ceasefire MOU is good news for the short term — oil prices ease, markets respond, and countries like India, South Korea, and Thailand get some relief. But the bigger question is what comes next. Freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz was once absolute; that certain

Trump rebuilds his tariff wall. The Strait of Hormuz remains closed. The US and China are at a stalemate. The markets continue to go up. Investors may be happy. But voters are not. Nor are the US’ trading partners. Republicans will pay the price at the voting booth. Long term, countries look to diversify away from both the US and China.

“People think AI is going to be like air, available for as long as they want and affordable enough for them to consume as much as they need," Steven Okun told Tim Burroughs as part of his deep dive on how private equity firms approach AI adoption. Many PE firms and their portfolio companies go all in on AI but with no budget, no risk plan, and no idea what happens if it gets expensive. What if AI costs 5x more in three years? Do you still hire that many fewer analysts? Becau

For decades, companies flocked to China for cheap manufacturing at scale and speed. Now, Western governments are pushing businesses to pull production and reduce their commitments. Beijing is hitting back with sweeping new rules that critics say could make it harder for foreign firms to diversify their supply chains. China says the measures are about protecting national and economic security - as it accuses the West of protectionism. The United States and Europe have been try