United States (US) president, Donald Trump’s imposition of at least US$60 million worth of tariffs on China’s products has already prompted signs of Chinese retaliation, something that could result in a trade war between the two nations. Trump’s earlier proposals to impose a 25 percent tariff on steel and a 10 percent tariff on aluminium imports has already sparked a global uproar. Spill-over effects from a likely trade war could impact Southeast Asia too.

During a free trade forum at the Wilson Centre in 2014, United States (US) Trade Representative, Michael Froman addressed a crowd on America’s commitment to free trade.“By leading on trade, we can carry forward the torch that President Wilson held up a century ago, when he said, ‘The time for provincial thinkers has gone by.

Donald Trump’s inherently protectionist “America First” policy is a far cry from what many have grown to perceive the United States in the international arena – as a bastion of free trade. But with Trump at the helm, the superpower has rescinded its global leadership in trade and has dented its reputation further by way of imposing tariffs. The recent tariffs which affected industries in Asia – specifically Southeast Asia – was the imposition of tariffs on solar panels and modules.