Public Affairs

Sharon Simmons didn't come to the Oval Office to talk geopolitics. She came to talk tips. And when pressed on transgender rights, on whether she voted for Trump, she did something most communications professionals struggle to do under pressure: she stayed on message. "I'm here about no tax on tips." That story opened APAC Advisors CEO Steven Okun's fireside chat with the Asia-Pacific Association of Communication Directors (APACD) — a network of Corporate Affairs and Communica

As the conflict in Iran continues to evolve, so do its implications for global trade. APAC Advisors hosted the fourth in its War with Iran webinar series, bringing together three leading voices to assess where things stand — and what businesses should be preparing for. The tariff roadmap Barbara Weisel, Former Assistant USTR and Scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, laid out the tariff landscape with precision. The key date to watch is July 24th, when the

Whether the ceasefire holds or not, firms should not assume business as usual Steven R Okun Published Wed, Apr 8, 2026 · 02:19 PM US PRESIDENT Donald Trump did not follow through on his threat to end a whole civilisation in Iran. Markets went up as a result. This does not mean long-term geopolitical risk and realignment will no longer occur. Trump remains President. While he sits in the Oval Office and the Iranian Republican Guard Corps rules in Teheran, fuel prices higher th

At the KangaNews Debt Capital Market Summit 2026, Steven Okun delivered a keynote highlighting how a new geopolitical era is set to drive higher global energy costs. He emphasized that regardless of how or when the war with Iran ends, governments will increasingly prioritise energy security and resilience—an approach that will come with significant financial implications. Okun underscored that businesses and investors must recognise and respond to this “gray rhino” risk. In t

With its shift towards green energy in recent years, China remains in good stead to weather the crisis that is gripping the world as the war in the Middle East continues. Steven Okun, CEO of APAC Advisors tells Asia News Week's Yvonne Yong why China is "basically doing better than anyone else in the region."

In this episode of Global Insight, we examine the forces shaping our world. Escalating violence in the Middle East has pushed oil prices to a four-year high and shaken global markets, forcing governments to scramble for ways to stabilize supplies. Steven Okun spoke with Vietnam Today, stating that the war ends when Iran stops fighting, not when Trump declares victory. Trump declaring victory does not mean the war with Iran will be over. That will only occur when Iran stops fi

As part of The Nanson’s ongoing geopolitical series, we had the opportunity to take part in a timely and thought-provoking discussion examining the shifting nature of global order—and what it means for businesses and investors today. The conversation, led by Bilahari Kausikan and centered around his best-selling book “The Myth of the Asian Century,”  explored a fundamental idea: that we are not entering a new or unprecedented era, but rather returning to a more historically t

As tensions escalate between Iran, Israel and the United States, the implications stretch far beyond the Middle East. Energy markets, global trade routes and geopolitical alignments are all being tested — and Asia will feel the impact. In this special live episode, Manisha Tank is joined by: Steve Okun – CEO APAC Advisors, a specialist in US–Asia relations Sam Olsen – Geopolitical analyst focusing on global power dynamics Together they discuss: • What has happened in the l

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...

Major auto-making nations have criticised US President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on foreign-made vehicles, with some promising...

Donald Trump has said that Americans could feel some 'pain' after tariffs were imposed on Mexico, Canada and China - rattling global...

In this new era of corporate sustainability, no issue unites stakeholders as urgently as climate change does.

The sessions at Temasek’s Eco-Sperity highlighted the inextricable link between the environment, social and governmental aspects of ESG.

Using ESG to avoid investing in potentially stranded assets & improving your carbon profile were among topics at AVCJ.

Hiring local thinkers provides an interesting lens to consider how successful PA practitioners should think & operate.

Many PA practitioners in Asia understand that to be effective, one must engage in the art of “corporate diplomacy."

Steve Okun offers realistic advice for landing in-house PA roles that are intellectually challenging, rewarding, and rare to come by.