by Joseph Matthews
The unilateral and controversial measures of the United States have created chaos and uncertainty around the world.
Since U.S. President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20, he has signed over 60 executive orders on various matters, including deporting undocumented immigrants, withdrawing from the World Health Organization and the Paris Agreement, and imposing additional tariffs on other countries.
Moreover, the U.S. administration has also made clear its intent to reclaim the Panama Canal and take over Greenland.
But the new administration didn't stop there. The White House has also proposed transforming Gaza into the Middle East Riviera by forcibly displacing over 2 million Palestinians and relocating them to neighboring countries.
These measures have triggered condemnation and anguish globally.
As for tariffs, the U.S. administration seems to overlook the fact that the increased tariffs will make commodities more expensive at the retail level, as importers will pass on the costs to U.S. consumers.
Experts have warned that the additional tariffs are expected to raise the prices of groceries, garments, footwear, leather goods and energy. Despite the slogan of "Make America Great Again," the U.S. administration is exerting significant financial pressure on the middle- and lower-income classes, undermining the very notion of making America great again.
No wonder countries, including members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members, are preparing for unpredictability caused by the Trump 2.0 administration.
This means that ASEAN countries should enhance regional collaboration while promoting national resilience. The bloc should leverage bilateral free trade agreements, the ASEAN Free Trade Area and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
For Cambodia, in particular, the kingdom should prioritize deepening cooperation within the framework of its existing free trade agreements, including the RCEP, as well as bilateral agreements with China, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.
These free trade agreements have played and will continue to play a vital role in stabilizing the economies of ASEAN, which may be negatively affected by the U.S. administration's erratic policies and executive orders.
Amid rising protectionism, unilateralism and deglobalization, China's role as the world's second-largest economy has become increasingly crucial, particularly for ASEAN.
As a member of the Global South, China is collaborating closely with other countries through multilateral mechanisms, including the BRICS, G20 and APEC, to promote multilateralism, economic globalization, as well as global development, security and cultural exchanges.
We are witnessing a rapid decline in U.S. leadership in international trade, geopolitics, geostrategy and geoeconomics. Blame Washington's unilateral measures. ASEAN must prepare.
Editor's note: Joseph Matthews is a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Xinhua News Agency.
