# Southeast Asian leaders to meet as Trump visit highlights trade disruption

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/southeast-asian-leaders-to-meet-as-trump-visit-highlights-trade-disruption/
- Published: 2026-11-14T06:48:14+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-14T10:40:33+00:00
- Original publisher: Al Jazeera (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/11/14/southeast-asian-leaders-to-meet-as-trump-visit-highlights-trade-disruption?traffic_source=rss
- Topics: Americas, Asia, Geopolitics, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- ASEAN leaders meet amid uncertainty over US trade policy.
- US imports from ASEAN reached $453.6bn in 2025.
- A regional digital economy pact may be signed.

## Summary

ASEAN leaders are meeting in Manila as Donald Trump’s Asia-Pacific trip puts his trade policy and shifting alliances in focus. New US tariffs and the possibility of further trade measures have raised concerns across Southeast Asia, even as the region’s exports to the US have recently grown.

The US imposed tariffs of 10 to 12.5 percent on dozens of trade partners, including most Southeast Asian economies, and is investigating other potential restrictions. US imports from ASEAN rose more than 29 percent to $453.6bn in 2025, while the trade deficit reached $327.4bn; much of the export growth came from electronics linked to AI investment. ASEAN may also sign a digital economy agreement intended to ease data transfers and electronic payments, supporting a regional digital economy targeted at $2 trillion by 2030.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.