News

U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of new tariffs on imported products is not only dealing a blow to Southeast Asia’s solar industry but also expected to drive up the cost of renewable energy projects within the United States.

On April 3, Trump announced all imports to the United States will be subject to a new “baseline” 10% tariff. This is an additional tax charged by US Customs and Border Protection when products cross the border.

Western climate policy rollbacks are raising concerns about setbacks to Southeast Asia’s energy transition, as reduced financing and weaker climate accountability could slow progress across the region.

Malaysia’s Sarawak has recently called for the establishment of a unified carbon market across ASEAN to boost carbon credit prices and address climate challenges.

Since President Trump took office, he has imposed additional tariffs on many imported products, raising concerns in some Southeast Asian countries about the potential impact and prompting them to devise countermeasures.

The country should approach gas-fired power development with caution, write the authors of a new report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

As part of their energy transition efforts, many ASEAN countries view small modular reactors (SMRs), which have a lower electricity output, as a transitional energy solution. Indonesia has made the most progress, with 29 potential sites already confirmed.

Southeast Asian ride-hailing giant Grab has announced plans to expand its electric vehicle fleet and has formed a strategic partnership with Chinese automaker BYD. The goal is to add 50,000 electric vehicles across six Southeast Asian countries.

While world leaders failed to secure meaningful action, extreme weather events battered Southeast Asia, underscoring the deadly consequences of inaction on climate change and the urgent need for inclusive solutions.

Southeast Asia's carbon market potential remains largely untapped. A recent report highlights that over the past 15 years, carbon credits provided by the ASEAN region have accounted for only 7% of the global carbon market.