Southeast Asia, by contrast, recorded an 18% year‑on‑year decline in deal value to USD 60 bn, constrained by a lack of big‑ticket transactions amid geopolitical and regulatory uncertainty. [2] As Southeast Asian countries deepen their economic ties with China, US regulators may also be more wary of any trace of Chinese government ownership in Southeast Asian firms. Internally, the deals that the Southeast Asian governments struck with the US to avoid tariffs are also being challenged. [4]There is still room for changes and rollbacks as negotiations between the US and its Southeast Asian partners continue. The governments of Southeast Asia have taken action against these scam rings.

Source: The Guardian January 29, 2026 11:48 UTC