Indonesia entered the second quarter of 2025 with signs of macroeconomic stabilization, including cooled inflation at 1.60% and a narrowed current account deficit of 0.1% of GDP.

The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) assessed QRIS as a trade barrier in its the National Trade Estimate Report 2025. The report – which includes broader trade concerns – underpins the Trump administration’s plan to impose 32% tariff duty for Indonesian products as of July 2025.

This policy brief calls for comprehensive reforms in labor laws, ethical recruitment practices, employer engagement, and climate-resilient agricultural strategies to ensure fair treatment and sustainability in the industry.

Based on World Values Survey data, the study concludes that eroding tolerance for inequality now poses social and political challenges, urging policymakers to pursue inclusive growth and stronger social safety nets.

Thailand must prioritize financial literacy as a fundamental skill to help people navigate an increasingly unpredictable economy, manage their money effectively, and achieve long-term financial goals.

Indonesia must leverage Australia’s ongoing interest in Southeast Asia to shape a practical agenda for security and economic collaboration while clarifying its own strategic priorities, ensuring that the partnership is driven by shared regional goals rather than short-term domestic concerns.

Indonesia is increasingly utilizing local content requirements (LCRs) across key sectors to support domestic industries and value addition, but these measures may breach its international trade and investment obligations under WTO and bilateral agreements.

The study also highlights that traditional trade-weighted indices understate these valuation effects and that financial hedging provides only partial mitigation.

Deloitte’s Thailand Economic Outlook: 1Q2025 paints a vivid picture of a nation striving to regain its momentum amid global uncertainties. The report reveals that while Thailand’s GDP growth lags behind regional peers, glimmers of hope emerge from a rebound in domestic consumption and a resilient tourism sector.