Asia must prioritize regional cooperation for economic resilience amid tariff uncertainty

In this analysis, Mireya Solís, Kristy Hsu, and Alicia García Herrero warn that trade is no longer governed by predictability but increasingly wielded as a tool of power. As US tariffs disrupt supply chains and unsettle allies, Japan and Taiwan find themselves squeezed by asymmetric deals and mounting uncertainty. Meanwhile, China is consolidating influence across the region.

The authors argue that the Asia Pacific’s middle powers cannot afford to wait for stability to return. Instead, they must take the initiative by building coalitions, investing in regional frameworks, and restructuring their approach to resilience to minimize reliance on any single power.

This analysis, the first in our new expert opinion series, Roads to Resilience, also marks the inaugural publication of the CAPRI–Brookings partnership, formalized earlier this summer.