As Donald Trump prepares to take office as the 47th President of the United States, the ASEAN businesses are bracing for potential shifts on trade and tariffs, even if experts suggest the changes may not be immediate. Commenting on this, SMU Associate Professor of Sociology Alwyn Lim said, "I don't actually expect any immediate or major changes in the ASEAN business landscape, if you're talking primarily about the effects of tariffs." Assoc Prof Lim emphasised that many of the tariffs introduced during Mr Trump’s first term were retained by the Biden administration, allowing ASEAN businesses to adapt over the years.