Asia’s uneasy trade countdown

With just over 50 days left until the 90-day pause on Liberation Day tariffs expire, most countries in Asia appear to be making only slow progress on agreeing trade deals with the US. While many countries seem willing to make concessions to avoid a return to punitive tariffs, negotiations could be complicated by US efforts to exclude China from regional supply chains. Reports also suggest the US may be pressing for currencies to appreciate, which trade-dependent Asian economies may be reluctant to accept.