Amidst surging US protectionism, China and ASEAN have a free trade agreement to minimize the impact of the US sanctions.
The Return of U.S. Protectionism under Trump
The US President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on numerous countries. Russia is one of the recent countries on which the United States has imposed sanctions to coerce it to withdraw its legitimate demand for no further eastward expansion of NATO, a move mandatory to ensure Moscow’s sovereignty and security. However, the US President and other Western leaders seek to deploy NATO or Western troops in Ukraine under the pretense of protecting Kyiv’s sovereignty. This Western demand is not only unacceptable for Russia but is also criticized by many Western philosophers and political scientists.
The Rise of the Eastern Bloc and BRICS Expansion
The influence of the two new global superpowers, China and Russia, has surged in the past few years due to the BRICS expansion. Many countries demonstrated their interest in BRICS membership over the years. Many Middle Eastern and African nations have already joined the organization. BRICS has also announced the launch of a new BRICS currency to hamper the US dollar hegemony over global trade. To counter the BRICS de-dollarization campaign, the Trump administration has imposed sanctions and tariffs on several nations. Brazil, India, China, Russia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei, and Myanmar are some of the countries that have faced Trump’s sanctions due to their non-compliance with the US policies.
Nonetheless, the Eastern powers are strengthening their cooperation with these nations to fight US protectionism. China and India share a historic rivalry. However, the US sanctions have further pushed India towards the Eastern bloc. The Indian government is now in talks with China to strengthen the bilateral ties between the two sides and end their mutual issues. The US is also attacking Venezuela due to its close ties with Russia. The Trump administration has also authorized the CIA for covert regime change operations in Venezuela. In addition, President Trump has also stated that he is considering land attacks in Venezuela.
ASEAN–China Cooperation and the Future of a Multipolar World
However, the Eastern Bloc is assisting its allies through mutual economic and defense cooperation. Russia has recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Venezuela. In addition, China has also upgraded its free trade agreement with ASEAN to counter US protectionism. This trade agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on 28th October. China and ASEAN have become the largest trade partners over the past few years. Mutual trade between the two sides has reached $785 billion in the first nine months of 2025. This trade not only includes integrated manufacturing supply chains but also includes finished products from China.
During the summit, Chinese Premier Li Qiang praised the strengthening of the trade partnership between the two sides. He also expressed his desire for “expanded and higher-quality economic cooperation.” He further stated, “Cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results, trade volume continues to grow steadily, and ASEAN governments have promoted even closer people-to-people exchanges… Cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results, trade volume continues to grow steadily, and ASEAN governments have promoted even closer people-to-people exchanges.” Li described this upgraded pact as a win-win deal for both sides.
The Chinese Premier also criticized the US protectionism. He stated, “Unilateralism and protectionism have seriously disrupted the global economic and trade order. External forces are increasingly interfering in our region, and many countries have been unfairly subjected to high tariffs.” Indeed, US protectionism and unilateralism have spread economic and humanitarian crises around the world. The United States holds a reputation for interfering in the domestic and regional issues of its allies. The United States pressures its allies to shape their foreign policies in accordance with Washington’s agenda.
The upgraded trade agreement between the two sides cements Beijing’s economic domination in the Southeast Asian region. Moreover, it could make regional economies buffer against the US protectionist policies. The upgraded free trade agreement further increases China’s economic influence and is largely viewed as another push to the declining US global hegemony. The Trump administration is rapidly losing its grip over the middle powers due to its protectionist policies. This free trade agreement suggests that the Eastern bloc’s influence is strengthening and the US-led world order’s collapse is destined. The unfolding events make it clear that middle powers are rallying behind a new, inclusive multipolar world order—one born out of frustration with Washington’s protectionism and unilateralism.
Taut Bataut is a researcher and writer that publishes on South Asian geopolitics
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