Trade

Trump’s New Trade Deals Give US an Edge Over Southeast Asia

Donald Trump at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Oct. 27.
Photographer: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images

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By Claire Jiao and Philip Heijmans

October 28, 2025 at 12:47 AM UTC

Updated on

October 28, 2025 at 9:25 AM UTC

US President Donald Trump came to Southeast Asia wielding trade deals his office hailed as “historic.” The finer details, though, suggest a set of agreements that are uneven and with plenty of unknowns.

In a whirl of activity after landing in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, Trump unveiled trade agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia, as well as the frameworks for deals with Thailand and Vietnam.