Asia-Pacific Economic Outlook: Buckling Up
This was always going to be a difficult year for Asia-Pacific economies. Growth was set to slow after export front-loading ahead of U.S. tariff hikes flattered the numbers last year. And the artificial intelligence boom looked ripe for a pause. Still, cooling inflation allowed central banks to ease policy, providing some reason for cautious optimism. Added to that, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in February to strike down country-specific tariffs brought some relief to some of the region's exporters.
But recent events have complicated the outlook. Conflict in the Middle East has sent commodity prices surging—a serious blow to Asia's energy importers and a worrying echo of the inflation shocks that followed the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. U.S. tariff policy is in flux, with the threat of higher import levies far from gone. And the jittery global backdrop is keeping financial markets on edge.
What lies ahead for the region? Join the Moody's Analytics team as they unpack:
- The trade and inflation outlook
- How monetary and fiscal policy will navigate the year ahead
- Domestic challenges confronting the region’s policymakers
- Where the AI boom creates risks and opportunities
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SpeakersStefan Angrick Head of Japan and Frontier Market Economics Moody's Analytics
Sarah Tan Economist Moody's Analytics
Denise Cheok Head of Southeast Asia Economics Moody's Analytics
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Stefan Angrick is the Head of Japan and Frontier Market Economics at Moody's in Tokyo. He holds a master's degree from Leipzig University and a PhD from the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo. He has previously held positions with Oxford Economics, the Asian Development Bank Institute, the Bank of Finland, and Keio University.
Sarah Tan is an economist at Moody’s Analytics in Singapore. She is responsible for covering economies across the Asia-Pacific region. She holds a post-graduate diploma in EU Competition Law from King’s College London and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the National University of Singapore. Sarah was previously an economist at Changi Airports International and a senior analyst at the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore.
Denise Cheok is the Head of Southeast Asia Economics, based in Singapore. She is responsible for forecasting and analyzing economies in Southeast Asia. In her current role, Denise advises global financial institutions and corporations on macroeconomic risks to the region. She is cited in international and local media such as the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and Nikkei Asia. Denise holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the National University of Singapore and a master’s degree in Economics from the University of British Columbia. Prior to joining Moody’s, she worked as a trade policy researcher at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.