On 14 May 2025, Rajah & Tann held its LearningBytes seminar series for the month, titled “The Trump Card in Trade Wars: Legal Strategies for Southeast Asian Business”.
Tariffs have been a recurring topic since the Liberation Day announcements. There have been retaliatory actions by some countries, while others engaged in negotiations. The multiple changes have complicated trade relations, supply chain arrangements and contractual relationships.
The topics covered by the speakers included: (i) tariffs and counter-tariffs; (ii) the impact of tariffs and counter-tariffs on trade flow, contracts, shipping, warehousing, and retaliatory actions; (iii) managing contractual arrangements and delays; (iv) export controls and sanctions effects; (v) supply chain reconsideration: offshoring, nearshoring, onshoring alternatives; and (vi) potential anti-dumping measures and safeguards, cost strategies, and long-term navigation of the new norm.
The speakers were Kala Anandarajah, BBM, Head of the Competition & Antitrust and Trade Practice, Ting Yong Hong from the Shipping & International Trade Practice, and Melisa Uremovic, Co-Managing Partner of Rajah & Tann (Thailand).
Disclaimer
Rajah & Tann Asia is a network of member firms with local legal practices in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Our Asian network also includes our regional office in China as well as regional desks focused on Brunei, Japan and South Asia. Member firms are independently constituted and regulated in accordance with relevant local requirements.
The contents of this publication are owned by Rajah & Tann Asia together with each of its member firms and are subject to all relevant protection (including but not limited to copyright protection) under the laws of each of the countries where the member firm operates and, through international treaties, other countries. No part of this publication may be reproduced, licensed, sold, published, transmitted, modified, adapted, publicly displayed, broadcast (including storage in any medium by electronic means whether or not transiently for any purpose save as permitted herein) without the prior written permission of Rajah & Tann Asia or its respective member firms.
Please note also that whilst the information in this publication is correct to the best of our knowledge and belief at the time of writing, it is only intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter and should not be treated as legal advice or a substitute for specific professional advice for any particular course of action as such information may not suit your specific business and operational requirements. You should seek legal advice for your specific situation. In addition, the information in this publication does not create any relationship, whether legally binding or otherwise. Rajah & Tann Asia and its member firms do not accept, and fully disclaim, responsibility for any loss or damage which may result from accessing or relying on the information in this publication.
