SIIA Talk | U.S. Tariff Turbulence: Legal Uncertainty in Washington and What It Means for ASEAN Business

As Washington moves beyond the one-year anniversary of “Liberation Day” tariffs in April, U.S. tariff policy remains in flux. Legal challenges and court rulings have raised fundamental questions about the authority underpinning recent trade measures, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling earlier this year that tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unconstitutional. U.S. importers are already pursuing refund claims against the federal government. In response, the Trump administration introduced a temporary 10 per cent tariff under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, which allows tariffs of up to 15 per cent for a maximum of 150 days without Congressional approval. That temporary authority is set to expire in late July, although President Trump has expressed support for increasing the rate to 15 per cent. Developments in Washington continue to create uncertainty over the sustainability and legal durability of these measures.

• How is the current U.S trade policy turbulence reshaping business confidence in the direction and credibility of future trade relations?
• What are the implications for ASEAN economies as trade policy and geopolitics become more intertwined?
• What does it mean for the reliability of agreement with Washington if new U.S tariffs bypass existing trade arrangements?

Speakers:
Mr. Alex Feldman, Partner, The Asia Group
Ms. Elizabeth Chelliah, Principal Trade Consultant, CFOTI, Singapore Business Federation (SBF); former Principal Trade Specialist (PTS), Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), Republic of Singapore 

Moderator: Mr. Simon Tay, Chairman, Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA)

Programme

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