ASEAN Seeks Bilateral US Tariff Talks While Maintaining Regional Unity

At the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, leaders emphasized the urgent need for regional unity and deeper economic integration to address the significant challenges posed by U.S. tariffs and the ongoing crisis in Myanmar. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, chairing ASEAN for 2025, highlighted a consensus to pursue bilateral tariff negotiations with the U.S. without compromising the interests of any member state, while calling for an ASEAN-U.S. summit to strengthen collaboration. Several ASEAN economies, including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia, have already initiated separate talks with the U.S. to seek tariff reductions or exemptions amid concerns about the tariffs' severe impact on the region’s export-led industrialization. Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra stressed the need to bolster regional supply chains, maximize free trade agreements, and support micro, small, and medium enterprises to navigate the evolving global trade environment. Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan underscored the potential economic slowdown due to the U.S.-China trade war and urged ASEAN to present a united front and accelerate integration to shield against external shocks. The summit concluded with a commitment to implement strategies promoting economic resilience and unity among the 10-member bloc, with East Timor set to join as the 11th member later in the year.