By unilaterally escalating tariffs, powerful economies like the US force trading partners into a defensive stance, compelling them to negotiate for exemptions under terms that often extend beyond commerce.
This strategy does not just recalibrate trade balances; it reshapes alliances, supply chains, and even domestic policies in weaker economies.
At its core, this approach exploits dependency. Countries like Malaysia, deeply integrated into US-led supply chains, face an impossible choice: either...