Despite Trump’s red carpet visit, Washington holds a weak hand in Southeast Asia

Written by Dr. Hunter Marston

With the Trump administration fixated on bilateral trade deals with individual countries, rather than the large multilateral trade deals that have shaped the region’s economic architecture in recent years, the US appears to be yesterday’s story, while Asia has moved on with the new rules of the road.

Southeast Asia9DLNovember 6, 2025Despite Trump's red carpet visit Washington holds a weak hand in Southeast Asia, Trump, 9DASHLINE, Southeast Asia, Chinese dominance, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, US-ASEAN Summit, US tariffs, Hunter Marston, trade negotiations, critical minerals, de-risking, US influence