Proseed event wrap-up: Trump, Tariffs, Trade, and Thailand: What next for the SE Asia Economies? – Panel – Sept 18th 2025 – Sponsored by b2bLEAD.ai | Bangkok's Friendliest Business Networking

A couple of days ago we all enjoyed Proseed’s 56th event—Trump, Tariffs, Trade, and Thailand: What next for the SE Asia Economies?, where three of Bangkok’s distinguished economic and trade leaders shared their insights. My deep thanks to our organizers, attendees, & panelists

Kenoye Rukari (Moderator)
Paul Sumner, PWC Tax Partner
Noah Shepherd, Shepherd Partnership
Lady Barbara Meynert, Macroeconomist & Founder of Ike Solab

Video

Thanks to the efforts of Mr. James, tech startup builder & founder of b2bLEAD.ai, we have the full event video available for your enjoyment:

Discussion Points

What Went Down?

The panel tackled the seismic shifts in global trade triggered by US tariff policies. Our experts—Paul Sumner (PWC), Noah Shepherd (Shepherd Partnership), and Lady Barbara Maynet (Ike Solab)—explored the turbulent landscape for Southeast Asian economies.

They didn’t just skim the surface; they dove deep into the critical issues:

The “Ticking Time Bomb” of Origin Rules: Paul Snar warned that many businesses are misinterpreting complex US customs laws, exposing themselves to future penalties. Simply assembling Chinese parts in Thailand doesn’t make a product “Made in Thailand.”
China’s Manufacturing Diaspora: Noah Shepherd provided compelling data showing that US tariffs have pushed Chinese manufacturers to relocate across Southeast Asia, with Thailand being a major beneficiary.
The “World Minus One” Future: Lady Barbara Maynet introduced the provocative idea of a global trading system that continues to operate on multilateral principles, even if the US steps back from its leading role, forcing regions like ASEAN to build stronger internal trade frameworks.

The discussion highlighted a clear consensus: the era of predictable, globalized trade is over. The new game is about agility, regionalization, and deep technical understanding.

Key Insights from the Night

Host Mike opened the evening with Proseed’s core idea: “that you can be kind and be successful at the same time.” This theme of community support resonated throughout the night. In a world of unprecedented uncertainty, where even C-suite executives are paralyzed by indecision, the panel emphasized that collaboration and shared knowledge are more critical than ever. As Paul Snar noted, many leaders “don’t know what to do,” so they “do nothing.” Proseed aims to be the antidote to that paralysis—a space to connect, learn, and find a path forward together.

Photos

For the evening’s photos, see below from Facebook:

Presentation

For the PDF of the evening’s presentation, including our Open Mic presentations, please contact me.

Thanks for joining!

Thanks, everyone, for your ongoing support for the children under the care of handsacrossthewater.org.au. In total, THB 1,900 was donated:

OUR NEXT EVENT
Proseed’s Caring & Coping Panel

Our next event will be on the November 20th: “Stigma, Culture, and Mental Health: The Role of Mental Well-being in Societal Resilience.“

Until then you’re welcome to join our LUNCHES – Announced Fridays at 12:30 at Kate’s Place (map). More details and invitations are available on our Friends of Proseed Whatsapp group

PITCH AT OUR NEXT EVENT – Open Mic!!!

As per our tradition, at our next event, we’ll invite 3 startups to pitch the crowd for 3 minutes each. This is a 1st-come-1st-served opportunity to pitch your idea to our audience.

Come see how you measure up!
Reserve your spot: https://goo.gl/N3Ycdx

Doing good

Proseed is grateful for the opportunity to help Hands Across the Water, a registered charity dedicated to saving Thailand’s most vulnerable children from dangerous environments and to provide a home for those without family or relatives. With your help, these kids don’t have to go hungry, miss out on education, face the challenges of life on their own or be forced into undesirable employment.