Left behind, again!

According to reports from Kuala Lumpur where the ASEAN Summit conference was held last week, the US granted a zero percent import tariff exemption to three outheast Asian countries — Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia — under new trade agreements approved directly by US President Donald Trump.

- BOO CHANCO

For Thailand, the US has retained a 19 percent tariff on many items; but several Thai products will now enjoy a zero percent rate.

There are other provisions. Thailand committed to purchase over $20 billion worth of agricultural products, energy supplies and 80 airplanes manufactured in the US. Bangkok agreed to lift tariffs on nearly 99 percent of US goods.

Malaysia secured zero percent tariffs for three major sectors: aerospace equipment; pharmaceutical products and key commodities such as palm oil, cocoa and rubber. Malaysia had agreed to invest $70 billion in the US.

For Cambodia, the US will maintain a 19 percent reciprocal tariff for imports except for “identified products from the list set out in Annex III to Executive Order 14346” which will receive a zero percent reciprocal tariff.

Prior to this agreement the rate for Cambodia had been at 49 percent (then later revised down to 36 percent for all goods as of Aug. 1) while negotiations were ongoing.

As for Vietnam, a joint statement (Oct. 26, 2025) between the US and Vietnam says: Vietnam will provide “preferential market access for substantially all US industrial and agricultural exports.”

The US wall maintain a 20 percent reciprocal tariff on Vietnamese-origin goods. the US will also identify specific products — from a list set out in Executive Order 14346 Annex III that will receive a zero percent reciprocal tariff rate.

Indonesia is currently negotiating a similar deal.

As for the Philippines, the Palace said the government opted out of a trade agreement to protect key domestic sectors from being fully opened to foreign competition.

Frederick Go, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, said, “We are trying to protect several industries in the Philippines, such as rice, corn, sugar and poultry.”