Key Takeaways:- Under Trump 2.0, tariffs have reshaped foreign direct investment into a tool of economic statecraft—where producing inside the U.S. or allied hubs has become a political act and proof of alignment.- In semiconductors and shipbuilding, Japan’s FDI is evolving into alliance infrastructure: shared R&D ecosystems, modular co-production, and expanded MRO capacity that strengthen collective eco...

Key Takeaways:- ICE’s raid on Hyundai has raised alarms among major Asian investors in the U.S., signaling that even aligned partners are not immune to political or regulatory shocks.- Taiwan—deeply invested in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing through TSMC—faces rising risks amid Trump-era uncertainties on labor, tariffs, and industrial policy.- To safeguard its strategic semiconductor edge, Taipei must diversi...

Key Takeaways:- The new U.S.–Indonesia trade agreement establishes a 19% reciprocal tariff and over US$20 billion in U.S. export commitments, reshaping bilateral economic ties.- While Jakarta touts the deal as a diplomatic win, the benefits remain uneven—Indonesia faces potential export declines, labor disruptions, and regulatory misalignment from U.S. policy alignment.- To sustain growth, Indonesia must leverage...

Key Takeaways: - The new EU–U.S. reciprocal trade framework eliminates tariffs on U.S. industrial goods and guarantees $750 billion in U.S. energy offtake, tightening economic and energy interdependence.- The deal accelerates Europe’s shift from Russian pipeline gas toward U.S. LNG imports, while raising medium-term energy costs across the EU.- Despite diversification efforts, the EU’s energy vulnerability...

Key Takeaways:- Temasek and Khazanah’s growing U.S. exposure reflects structural diversification, not short-term geopolitical reactions.- Their pivot away from China stems from slower growth, regulatory unpredictability, and better innovation ecosystems in U.S. markets.- This evolution marks Southeast Asia’s sovereign wealth funds’ transition from regional champions to global stewards, aligning capital with tra...