Will ASEAN come together or fracture in dealing with America First? Can the US-China trade war stabalize? How will Chinese transshipments be addressed in a US-Malaysia agreement? Is there a coalition led by the US that can be developed to counter China's dominance of Rare Earth  The only thing we know for sure: Malaysia, South Korea and Japan will each engage in "flattery diplomacy" given that's the playbook all governments use when it comes to Trump. Breaking down what to wa

Concern is increasing throughout Southeast Asia as U.S. officials, intent on slowing China, have yet to say how they will define the origin country of imports. Trump administration officials have been vocal about setting one rule-of-origin target for the region. They have focused on 30 percent: Any product containing more than that level of foreign parts or content sent to the United States would face the special transshipment tariff. While discussions are fluid, one thing is

The U.S. announced agreements on Sunday with Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia, securing support for its efforts to pressure China on trade and critical minerals. While the statements did not mention China, to varying degrees they signaled each country’s support for Mr. Trump’s aim to reduce China’s stranglehold on some of the most important materials that go into a wide array of products, such as batteries, smartphones and magnets for fighter jets. In addition, the statements

Steven Okun, CEO of public affairs consultancy APAC Advisors, said when interviewed that though Trump is not expected to make significant policy statements at the ASEAN Summit, his attendance itself sends an important signal that “Southeast Asia is key to the US from an economic perspective, a geopolitical perspective and a defence perspective.” “Just by taking off the fentanyl tariffs, that would put China at almost the same tariff rate as most Southeast Asian countries. And

Sinha Confirmed: Can Be Successful Ambassador to Singapore (Steven Okun's Analysis for  CNA ) As U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, Anjani...

Their relationship has long been defined by rivalry, competing ambitions and a disputed border. Now, India and China are resuming direct...

Steven Okun, CEO of public affairs consulting firm APAC Advisors, acknowledged the importance of a meeting between the U.S. and Chinese...

Trump threatens to cancel Xi Jinping summit in wake of rare earth curbs that one analyst says had left US president ‘furious and...

Steven Okun is CEO of APAC Advisors, a geostrategic consultancy headquartered in Singapore who served in the Clinton administration....

The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he's 'concerned' by reports of a Chinese ban on BHP iron ore imports. Steve Okun, the CEO of...

Steve analyzed the Democrats’ high-risk strategy in the looming U.S. government shutdown, and what it signals about both political...

U.S. President Donald Trump has driven out of his party nearly everyone with the temerity to challenge him, write Steven R Okun and...

Steven Okun of APAC Advisors says the SCO summit shows President Xi’s desires to be an architect of a new global trading framework, to...

Dr Anjani Sinha faltered at his confirmation hearing to become the US ambassador to Singapore, but he could still be a net positive to...

While the language of ESG is changing, its fundamental value for business is not. Some companies never used the term ESG publicly - even...

With Donald Trump in the White House, some Asian companies may believe they do not have to worry about forced labour in their operations...

As a recognized expert on U.S. foreign policy, global trade, sustainability, and corporate public affairs across the Asia-Pacific region,...

Steven discusses with Professor Frank Pieke on China’s response to the imposition of “reciprocal tariffs” by US President Donald Trump...

Steven Okun joined the Pacific Polarity podcast to break down the U.S.-Southeast Asia trade landscape, explaining how tariffs are...

President Donald Trump paused his steep tariffs due to the bond market, but more market turmoil may come, says US politics expert Steven...