Asean to push bilateral tariff talks with US without undermining regional unity, says Malaysia's PM Anwar

Business Times

27-05-2025

[KUALA LUMPUR] Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) have agreed to pursue bilateral discussions with the United States on tariff-related issues, while ensuring such negotiations do not compromise the interests of other member states, said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday (May 27). His country is the Asean chair for 2025.
Speaking at a media briefing at the close of the 46th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar – who is serving as Asean chair in 2025 – described the meeting as 'unprecedented,' citing a growing sense of urgency among leaders to drive reforms amid external shocks.
'All leaders are on the same page when it comes to bilateral engagement with the US,' he said. 'But we also agreed that it should not be at the expense of other countries.'
He added that the region's response was driven by the need to protect the interests of its more than 660 million people. 'I have not seen this level of commitment from Asean leaders in previous years,' he noted.
South-east Asian economies have been among the worst hit by the recent wave of US tariffs, with six of the bloc's 10 members facing levies ranging from 32 to 49 per cent once the current 90-day moratorium ends in July.
Anwar said that he had written to US President Donald Trump requesting a US-Asean Summit to enhance collaboration. While Washington has yet to respond, he said Asean leaders remain ready to engage with the US and have reached a consensus on their position.
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'We must continue to engage – economically, in trade and investment. Take Malaysia, for example. We are a semiconductor hub, with over 60 per cent of our semiconductor exports going to the US.'
Stronger cooperation ahead
The summit concluded ahead of schedule, with most agenda items settled through consensus, added the prime minister.
He expects tangible progress by the time Asean leaders meet again in October, noting that ministers and officials have been tasked to work on implementation strategies in the coming months.
On the Myanmar crisis, Anwar said leaders reaffirmed their support for the Five-Point Consensus and pledged to continue providing humanitarian assistance. The bloc also urged all parties in Myanmar to cease violence and take concrete steps towards a peaceful resolution.
'The Five-Point Consensus remains our main reference. It must be implemented in full to help the people of Myanmar reach a durable, inclusive, and Myanmar-owned solution,' noted Anwar.
Diversifying partnerships
While engagement with the US continues, Asean will also intensify intra-regional trade and deepen ties with China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), added the Malaysian leader.
'When people talk about globalisation, it's often seen as a Western concept, but trade in the East started much earlier,' he said. 'With new leadership in Asean, the Middle East, and China, we must focus on collaboration, focus on economic growth and also to secure peace.'
China's Premier Li Qiang and Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah, crown prince of Kuwait and the president of the current session of the Supreme Council of the GCC, were also present on Tuesday for the inaugural Asean-GCC-China Summit.
Separately, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said Asean's sub-regional cooperation under the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (Bimp-Eaga) has been pivotal in reducing development gaps and boosting inclusive growth.
Chairing the 16th Bimp-Eaga Summit on Tuesday, Marcos pointed to advances in connectivity, trade and investment facilitation, and food and energy security. He also cited growing momentum in ecotourism and green development since the initiative's launch in 1994.