ASEAN Seeks Summit on US Tariff Concerns

ASEAN countries, led by Malaysia as the current chair, are seeking a special summit with the United States to address concerns over newly imposed US tariffs, which range from 10% to 49%. Leaders emphasize dialogue over retaliation to resolve trade disputes, with Malaysian Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz highlighting efforts to engage both bilaterally and multilaterally with the US. ASEAN has collectively committed to maintaining open communication and collaboration with the US, while also exploring regional trade agreements to mitigate impacts. China has criticized the US's unilateral tariff measures, stressing the need for a cooperative multilateral trading system. A temporary 90-day tariff pause announced by President Trump has provided some relief, but the ASEAN bloc remains cautious about future trade stability.