ASEAN Ministers Prepare RCEP Response as US Tariffs Challenge Regional Trade

Amid rising global protectionism, ASEAN economic ministers are meeting to reinforce commitments to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), an Asia-Pacific trade alliance that covers 30% of the global economy, as a shield against trade tensions. China and ASEAN are deepening economic ties with the upcoming China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0, which will address tariffs as well as emerging issues like AI and supply chain resilience, even as the US imposes new tariffs on ASEAN goods. Chinese officials emphasize opposing trade protectionism and maintaining free trade, urging cooperation with regional partners like South Korea. Meanwhile, security analysts advise that ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, continue engagement with China rather than isolating it, despite maritime tensions and legal disputes over the South China Sea. However, Taiwan remains excluded from RCEP primarily due to China's political influence, though economic analyses suggest that RCEP members may bear costs from this exclusion, with ripple effects potentially impacting the US economy. Overall, the region faces complex geopolitical and economic dynamics balancing trade openness with strategic considerations.