Following the State of the Union, Asia should brace for another round of tariff pressure. President Trump made his continued reliance on tariffs unmistakably clear, even as earlier legal authorities have been curtailed. With emergency powers ruled unconstitutional, the shift toward alternative, time-tested trade statutes signals that tariffs are not going away —-they are being re-engineered. The next phase is likely to involve Section 122 in the near term, followed by a retur

A US Supreme Court ruling has fundamentally shifted the economics of Trump-era tariff deals. With a uniform tariff rate now set at 15%, countries that agreed to higher rates — often alongside large investment commitments — now find themselves at a clear disadvantage. As reported by The New York Times , governments across Asia are reassessing whether moving quickly to secure deals was a strategic misstep, and whether those agreements will ultimately hold. As APAC Advisors CEO

A US Supreme Court ruling has added fresh uncertainty for countries that struck tariff deals under Trump’s emergency authorities. In a recent interview with Al Jazeera English , APAC Advisors CEO Steven Okun unpacked what this means for countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, now caught between legacy tariff commitments and a shifting legal landscape in Washington. With Trump’s emergency tariff powers curtailed and new tariffs time-limited, leverage dynamics have changed —

In the Trump 2.0 era, government relations and public relations can no longer operate in silos. One year into President Trump’s return to office, the central challenge for public affairs and communications leaders in Asia is internalising a new geopolitical reality — one where America First policies and US–China dynamics directly shape reputational risk and business outcomes. In a recent private briefing held in APAC Advisors’ capacity as senior advisors to Edelman, APAC Advi

In a recent ABC interview, APAC Advisors CEO Steven Okun unpacked why, under traditional FTA definitions, the answer is no — but why, in today’s fractured global trading system, that framing may be missing the bigger picture. With the rules-based order under strain, this deal could signal the emergence of a new trade architecture — one shaped without the U.S. or China as the primary architects. In that sense, it may well mark the beginning of something far bigger. Great to se

The star of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations in Asia should be its most enduring export – its founding principles Steven Okun Published: 5:30am, 27 Feb 2026 In his farewell address, then US president Ronald Reagan advocated for the United States to do “a better job of getting across that America is freedom: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of enterprise. And freedom is special and rare”. The Trump administration should follow Reagan’s advice as it desig

A Hedge Against an Unpredictable United States Western middle powers like Britain, feeling increasingly alienated by the United States, are now looking to hedge their economic interests by rebalancing toward China, analysts said. “For the past few years, companies were diversifying and de-risking from China. Now, they are doing so from the United States,” said Steve Okun, head of APAC Advisors, a geopolitical consulting firm. Mr. Xi offered a thinly veiled critique of the cur

Commerce Secretary Lutnick said the US expects a large investment pledge in excess of $300 billion from Taiwan in trade talks. Lutnick also said they would help train US workers for advanced semiconductor production. Taiwan maintains such training is not part of bilateral tariff negotiations. Just another example of America First where US treats its partners more as vassal states. Given Japan pledged to invest $550 billion and South Korea $350 billion, Taiwan got off light.

Investors who fail to assess and mitigate the potential harms of adopting Artificial Intelligence cannot credibly call themselves “responsible”. By Steven Okun, Megan Willis, Noemie Viterale Nov. 12, 2025 A hyperscaler data centre. For investors in AI, the test will be how to ensure adoption of AI while mitigating the harm from job losses, the increase in income inequality, and the damage to the environment. Image: Tommy Young/Flickr Artificial Intelligence (AI) did not exis

Trump 2.0 Beyond Borders – What It Means for Fiji and the Region AmCham Fiji hosted a hybrid event with former U.S. government official and geopolitical analyst  Steven Okun  of  APAC Advisors (Singapore)  and Head of External Affairs for the  American Association of the Indo-Pacific . He joined us for an engaging in-person briefing in Nadi. The session, “Trump 2.0 Beyond Borders: Geopolitical Risks and Opportunities for Businesses and Investors,” explored how shifting U.S.–C

Steven joined Leila de Lima, Adrian Ang and Nicole Curato on a panel about political comebacks at the Asian Conference for Political Communication 2025 (#ACPC 25), organised by Konrad‑Adenauer‑Stiftung’s Media Programme Asia. He discussed how Donald Trump, drawing from Richard Nixon’s model of fear-driven politics, has fuelled his comeback and consolidated power. His engine isn’t ideas - it’s fear: first over his party, then the media, business and education sectors. The real

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...

The Corporate Affairs Forum 2025 gathers the region’s most influential voices incorporate affairs, public affairs, government relations...

For all the doomsaying about US President Donald Trump’s trade and economic policies, the world’s biggest economy has held up relatively...

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 Trump’s new tariffs, including a 24% tax on goods imported from Malaysia, have sparked a mix of reactions worldwide. While some...