Since Donald Trump’s inauguration as the US President on 20 January 2025, his presidency has marked a significant shift towards “America First” policy and unilateralism. He is implementing his approaches for 3 major focus areas – immigration, economic reform and environmental deregulation – and has already created waves with his trade tariffs in spite of a potential economic fallout.

So how has the Trump Effect changed the international order? What economic impact will his policies have on businesses in the region? And how should leaders adapt their business strategies to overcome challenges and seize opportunities in this uncertain landscape? Join us in this Forum as our experienced panel of speakers share the implications of Trump’s administration from the global, China and ASEAN perspectives.

Important Notes:
– Due to venue constraints, participants will only be allowed entry upon receipt of the confirmation email for the event.
– For queries, please email Ms Kerri Wong / Mr Zekson Tan at [email protected] / [email protected] or +65 6430 8315 / 6430 8335

 

Click here to register.

 

In collaboration with:

 

 

Guest Speakers:

 

Angela Mancini,
Partner, Global Risk Analysis, Control Risks

Angela is a Partner in Control Risks’ Asia Pacific Global Risk Analysis team, in which role she leads a group of specialists conducting country, sector and regulatory risk assessment work. Angela is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and has worked in financial services and economic development for 20 years. She has been posted in Russia, Indonesia, and Egypt, and has worked in India, China, Eastern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. Her technical specialties are economic development, governance, anti-money laundering policies and audits, anti-corruption, compliance and financial risk management consulting.

 

 

Suan Teck Kin, CFA
Head of Research, Executive Director Global Economics and Markets Research, UOB

Teck Kin joined UOB as an economist in 2006. In his current role as Executive Director in Global Economics and Markets Research, he is responsible for macroeconomic and foreign exchange research with a primary focus on China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and secondary coverage for the ASEAN region. As a member of the Research team, he presents the team’s market views regularly to the Bank’s management team and clients in Singapore and the region.

Teck Kin has more than ten years of experience in macroeconomic and equity research. Fluent in English and Mandarin, Teck Kin is interviewed frequently by local and international print and broadcast media, as well as financial newswires on the economic and market outlook.

Prior to UOB, Teck Kin held various positions in equity and credit analysis in other financial institutions in Singapore, Canada and Taiwan.

Teck Kin graduated with a Master’s degree in economics and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Simon Fraser University, Canada. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder.

 

 

Dr Deborah Elms
Head, Trade Policy,  Hinrich Foundation

Dr. Deborah Elms is Head of Trade Policy at the Hinrich Foundation in Singapore. Prior to joining the Foundation, she was the Executive Director and Founder of the Asian Trade Centre (ATC). She was also President of the Asia Business Trade Association (ABTA) and the Board Director of the Asian Trade Centre Foundation (ATCF).

Dr. Elms serves on the board of the Trade and Investment Negotiation Adviser (TINA) at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific (UNESCAP). She was on the International Advisory Council for APCO (2021-2023) and was a member of the international Technical Advisory Committee of the Global Trade Professionals Alliance and Chair of the Working Group on Trade Policy and Law. She was also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Trade and Investment Council for 2018-2020.

Prior to founding ATC/ATCF and the ABTA, she was head of the Temasek Foundation Centre for Trade & Negotiations (TFCTN) and Senior fellow of International Political Economy at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Dr. Elms received a PhD in political science from the University of Washington, a MA in International Relations from the University of Southern California, and bachelor’s degrees from Boston University.

She is the author of numerous articles, editor of several books, and regularly published the Talking Trade Blog (https://www.hinrichfoundation.com/global-trade/talking-trade-blog/). Dr. Elms also routinely appears on television and in major newspapers and magazines around the world to comment on trade and economic issues. Dr. Elms also makes frequent appearances at a range of global trade and economic workshops, conferences, capacity building sessions and negotiations.

 

 

Dr Li Mingjiang
Assoc Professor & Provost’s Chair
International Relations Associate Dean & Head of Graduate Studies
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU

Dr. LI Mingjiang is an Associate Professor and Provost’s Chair in International Relations at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He is Associate Dean and the Head of Graduate Studies at RSIS. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from Boston University. His main research interests include international politics, Chinese foreign policy, China-ASEAN relations, Sino-U.S. relations, and Asia-Pacific security. He is the author (including editor and co-editor) of 15 books. His recent books are China’s Economic Statecraft (World Scientific, 2017) and New Dynamics in US-China Relations: Contending for the Asia Pacific (lead editor, Routledge, 2014). He has published papers in various peer-reviewed outlets including Chinese Journal of Communication, Asian Journal of Political Science, International Journal of Asian Studies, Asian Policy, Journal of Contemporary Asia, International Relations of the Asia Pacific, World Development, China International Strategy Review, the China Review, International Affairs, Asian Perspective, Asian Politics & Policy, Asian Security, Oxford Bibliographies, Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, Journal of Strategic Studies, Global Governance, Cold War History, Journal of Contemporary China, the Chinese Journal of International Politics, the Chinese Journal of Political Science, China: An International Journal, China Security, Harvard Asia Quarterly, Security Challenges, etc.

 

Moderator:

Chia Kim Huat
Regional Head Corporate & Transactional Practice, Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP

Chia Kim Huat is the Regional Head of Rajah & Tann Singapore’s Corporate and Transactional Group.

Kim Huat has extensive experience in capital market, public and private mergers and acquisitions, cross-border joint ventures and private equity investments, both in Singapore and the region.

He travels regularly in the Asia-Pacific region advising clients on a wide range of matters, including direct investments and infrastructure projects in China, major acquisitions in Korea, joint ventures in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan and cross-border mergers and acquisitions transactions.

Kim Huat also advises foreign investors on their investments in Singapore, including listings on the Singapore Exchange, privatizations, secondary and dual listings.

He has been highly recommended as a leading lawyer by numerous leading legal directories. Notably, he is recognized as an Eminent Practitioner by Chambers Global, a Foreign Expert in China by Chambers Asia-Pacific, a Leading Individual by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Highly Regarded by IFLR1000, and an Elite Practitioner by asialaw Profiles for Capital Markets.

He is also named as a Global Leader by Who’s Who Legal for M&A, Capital Markets – Debt & Equity, Corporate Governance and Hospitality.