摩根士丹利：亚洲（除中国外）难以摆脱对中国的依赖

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry or economies discussed Core Insights - Shifting away from China for Asia ex China (AXC) economies to avoid US tariffs is deemed nearly impossible due to China's integral role as a key market, critical supplier, and significant source of FDI inflows [1][5][13] - Implementing trade restrictions on China would likely lead to reciprocal measures from China, resulting in significant negative impacts on trade, capital expenditure, and growth outlook for AXC economies [5][8][13] Summary by Sections Trade Relations and Economic Impact - The US may seek to have AXC economies limit their economic involvement with China, but the report argues that such restrictions are impractical given China's central role in the region's production network [5][8] - China is a major source of end demand, critical inputs, and FDI, especially for ASEAN economies, making any trade restrictions potentially damaging [5][10][12] Economies at Risk - Economies like Vietnam, Thailand, and India, which have trade surpluses with the US and deficits with China, may be pressured to impose tariffs on China, but the report suggests they would struggle to do so [8][10] - Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, which also have significant trade surpluses with the US, run trade surpluses with China, making tariffs on Chinese imports unlikely [8][10] Trade Dynamics - Exports to the US account for 17.5% of AXC economies' total exports, while exports to China account for 16.6%, highlighting the importance of both markets [10][24] - China accounts for 41% of global value chain-related output in manufacturing, emphasizing its critical role in the region's supply chains [12][21] Potential Measures and Challenges - The report evaluates three potential measures the US could ask AXC economies to adopt: stricter rules of origin, tariffs on China, and limiting investment from China, all of which present significant challenges [15][16] - Imposing tariffs on Chinese imports could lead to inflationary pressures and disruptions in domestic manufacturing sectors, with potential retaliatory actions from China [18][31] Investment Flows - China's FDI inflows account for 11% of total FDI in ASEAN economies, with significant reliance on Chinese investments, particularly in Singapore, which acts as a conduit for FDI into ASEAN [37][39] - Other Asian economies like Japan, Korea, and Taiwan have lower reliance on Chinese FDI, which has been declining, thus limiting exposure to retaliatory measures [38][39] Transshipment and Domestic Production - The report notes limited evidence of transshipment activities in Vietnam, Thailand, and India, suggesting that their trade deficits with China reflect reliance on Chinese inputs for domestic production rather than trade rerouting [51][52]