Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

11-2025

Abstract

The post-war international economic order was, to a large extent, underwritten by U.S. leadership. Nowhere was this more visible than in Asia, where the United States not only financed post-colonial development but also provided open access to its huge market, laying the foundation for export-led growth across the region. It underpinned regional stability through a blend of military, diplomatic, and economic engagement, including costly interventions in the Korean and Vietnam wars. That legacy, however, was fundamentally disrupted on April 2, 2025, when the Trump administration unveiled sweeping tariffs targeting key Asian economies. As Singapore’s defense minister wryly observed, the United States—once hailed as a “liberator”— hadreturnedasa“landlord seeking rent,”1 atransformationmadeall themore ironicbyits timing on so-called Liberation Day. The impact was immediate and region-wide. Yet rather than retaliate or seek recourse through the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) dispute settlement system, most countries moved quickly to negotiate bilateral accommodations. The lone exception was China, which responded with tit-for-tat measures before agreeing to a truce and entering into negotiations in May. In the meantime, Washington began unveiling a series of bilateral deals—first with the United Kingdom, then Vietnam, Indonesia, and Japan—before releasing the tariff numbers for everyone on July 31. While these moves clearly contravene core WTOprinciples and rules, the more urgent question is what kind of order will emerge from the chaos. Though the contours remain murky, early signals point to the construction of a new trade architecture centered not on multilateralism but on a reassertion of reciprocity.

Discipline

Asian Studies | International Trade Law

Publication

American Journal of International Law

Volume

119

Issue

4

First Page

711

Last Page

723

ISSN

0002-9300

Identifier

10.1017/ajil.2025.10111

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Copyright Owner and License

Authors-CC-BY

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1017/ajil.2025.10111

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