Anwar of Malaysia exhorts ASEAN to avoid compromising its member states due to U.S. tariffs.
In the aftermath of Donald Trump's implementation of tariffs, ASEAN members, including Malaysia, have rallied to counteract the potential economic repercussions. Key points of their strategy involve diversifying trade partners and fortifying regional integration to mitigate the influence of U.S. tariffs.
Malaysia, spearheaded by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has been at the vanguard of this effort, striving to foster a united ASEAN front in negotiating with the U.S. Anwar has shown a willingness to engage with Trump personally in order to address the tariffs question head-on.
During the recent ASEAN summit, discussions among leaders touched upon various issues such as the escalating civil war and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, as well as the admission of East Timor as the bloc's 11th member by October. Nevertheless, the principal focus remained on the implications of Trump's tariffs.
Anwar, in his capacity as the current ASEAN chair, emphasized that any negotiations with the U.S. must not compromise the interests of any member state or third parties. In light of this consensus, ASEAN has established a taskforce to oversee responses and perform bilateral talks with the U.S. The four largest ASEAN economies – Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia – have already initiated separate discussions with the U.S., aiming to secure tariff exemptions or reduce tariffs for their exports to the world's largest economy.
In a recent development, the U.S. has suspended tariffs on ASEAN nations like Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia for a period of 90 days to allow for negotiations. This brief reprieve offers a glimmer of hope for ASEAN members hoping to alleviate the economic strain imposed by U.S. tariffs.
Anwar underscores the need for an open and inclusive global order, expressing concern over the geopolitical tension generated by Trump's tariffs. As part of Malaysia's diplomatic efforts, he has penned letters to Trump, advocating for a U.S.-ASEAN meeting to discuss the matter. This reflects ASEAN's commitment to pursue resolutions through dialogue rather than confrontation.
Policy-and-legislation discussions within the ASEAN summit centred on negotiations with the U.S., particularly focusing on Trump's tariffs and their impact on regional economies. Malaysia, led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has advocated for an open and inclusive global order, writing letters to Trump emphasizing the need for a U.S.-ASEAN meeting to address the tariffs issue diplomatically.
