New U.S. Trade Probes Raise Concerns in Asia

Washington's new trade probes under Section 301 target excess industrial capacity in several Asian economies, raising concerns about potential tariffs. The investigations focus on countries like China, Singapore, and Thailand, which exhibit structural excess capacity. Singapore disputes the USTR's claims regarding its manufacturing capacity and trade surplus, while Thailand highlights that its trade surplus includes exports from American companies. Taiwan plans to protect its interests based on prior agreements with the U.S. and has committed to significant investments in the U.S. semiconductor sector.