Latest news with #ASEAN-US
Kuwait Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
ASEAN face US tariffs as united front
Leaders embrace 'multi-alignment diplomacy'; East Timor to join next year KUALA LAMPUR: Southeast Asian leaders met Monday in Kuala Lumpur for their first summit since US President Donald Trump's tariffs upended global economic norms, with the trade-dependent nations expected to issue a joint message of deep concern. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN's) strategy of nurturing diverse economic alliances was on full display as Chinese Premier Li Qiang was warmly welcomed along with Gulf state dignitaries for a lavish gala dinner ahead of talks on Tuesday. Trump cast international markets into turmoil in April when he announced wide-ranging tariffs, before agreeing to pause them for most countries for 90 days. In summit opening remarks given to media but not delivered in his speech, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said: "A transition in the geopolitical order is underway and the global trading system is under further strain, with the recent imposition of US unilateral tariffs." "Protectionism is resurging as we bear witness to multilateralism breaking apart at the seams," he added. Bilateral talks between the ASEAN member states and Washington are in progress, but the bloc is still presenting a united front, according to Malaysia, which holds the rotating ASEAN chairmanship this year. According to a draft statement seen by AFP, ASEAN will express "deep concern ... over the imposition of unilateral tariff measures", saying they "pose complex and multidimensional challenges" to the bloc. But it said earlier this year it would not impose retaliatory duties. Instead, it is looking at broadening its scope with other trading blocs, including the European Union, as well as beefing up trade between member states, Malaysia's trade minister said Sunday. 'Not just a photo-op' Tuesday's talks with Li and the Gulf Cooperation Council — a bloc made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — underscores this effort to maintain a broad network of trading partners. "It's not just a photo-op. It actually demonstrates how ASEAN is attempting to engage strategically with various blocs, a strategy we might term multi-alignment diplomacy," said Khoo Ying Hooi from Malaya University. Anwar said Monday he had written to Trump to request an ASEAN-US summit this year — showing "we observe seriously the spirit of centrality". His foreign minister Mohamad Hasan said Washington had not yet responded. Despite smiles all round at Monday night's dinner — and Premier Li donning a matching traditional batik shirt to the ASEAN leaders — the bloc's relationship with China is a complicated one. "Please be assured that whatever is being said, or circumstances and complexity, we are here as a friend of China," Anwar said at the dinner. But on Monday, Philippines leader Ferdinand Marcos told his regional counterparts there was an "urgent need" to adopt a legally binding code of conduct in the South China Sea. Beijing has territorial disputes in the area with five ASEAN member states, with China and the Philippines having engaged in months of confrontations in the contested waters. The adoption of the code should be accelerated "to safeguard maritime rights, promote stability, and prevent miscalculations at sea", Marcos said. Myanmar conflict ASEAN also has internal matters to deal with, including an attempt to increase pressure on member state Myanmar's military junta, whose leaders are barred from summits over a lack of progress on a five-point peace deal agreed on by the bloc in 2021. "One thing for sure that we agreed is that Myanmar's government ... must comply with the five points consensus which they themselves agreed on as one of the signatories," Mohamad said Sunday. ASEAN has led so far fruitless diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, triggered when the junta staged a coup deposing civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. Mohamad called Sunday for an extension and expansion of a ceasefire declared after a deadly earthquake, despite ongoing fighting bringing its effectiveness into question. Also on ASEAN's agenda was the prospect of adding an 11th member state before the end of the year. East Timor, Asia's youngest nation, "has made meaningful progress" for it to "hopefully" join the bloc by the next summit in October, Mohamad said. After meeting leaders on Monday, East Timor's prime minister said he believed his country would become a full member this year. "Because everyone supports. Everybody. It was incredible," Xanana Gusmao told reporters. — AFP
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
ASEAN kicks off summits with China, Gulf states amid US tariff threat
agencies kuala lumpur Southeast Asian leaders are holding their first ever summit with China and the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as they seek to insulate their trade-dependent economies from the effect of steep tariffs from the United States. The meeting, in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, took place on Tuesday, on the second day of the annual summit of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Malaysia is the current chair of ASEAN, which also includes Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The meeting followed separate talks between leaders of the ASEAN and the GCC, which comprises of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, opening the ASEAN-GCC summit, said stronger ties between the two blocs would be key to enhancing collaboration, building resilience and securing sustainable prosperity. 'I believe the ASEAN-GCC partnership has never been more important than it is today, as we navigate an increasingly complex global landscape marked by economic uncertainty and geopolitical challenges,' Anwar said. At a press conference on Tuesday, Anwar added that Southeast Asian leaders reached an understanding that any bilateral agreements they may strike with the US on trade tariffs would not harm each others' economies. 'While proceeding with bilateral negotiations … the consensus rose to have some sort of understanding with ASEAN that decisions should not be at the expense of any other country,' Anwar told reporters. 'So we will have to protect the turf of 650 or 660 million people,' he said of ASEAN. China's Premier Li Qiang, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, joined ASEAN and the GCC for their first meeting on Tuesday. He met with Anwar on Monday and called for expanded trade and investment ties between Beijing, ASEAN and the GCC. 'At a time when unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise and world economic growth is sluggish,' Li said, China, ASEAN and GCC countries 'should strengthen coordination and cooperation and jointly uphold open regionalism and true multilateralism'. ASEAN has maintained a policy of neutrality, engaging both Beijing and Washington, but US President Donald Trump's threats of sweeping tariffs came as a blow. Six of the bloc's members were among the worst hit, with tariffs between 32 percent and 49 percent. Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariffs in April for most of the world, and this month struck a similar deal with key rival China, easing trade war tensions. Anwar said on Monday he had also written to Trump to request an ASEAN-US summit this year, showing 'we observe seriously the spirit of centrality.' However, his Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said Washington had not yet responded. ASEAN has traditionally served as 'a middleman of sorts' between developed economies like the US and China, said Chong Ja Ian from the National University of Singapore (NUS).
HKFP
5 days ago
- Business
- HKFP
Southeast Asian leaders meet to discuss tariffs, talk with top Chinese, Gulf states officials
Southeast Asian leaders met Monday in Kuala Lumpur for their first summit since US President Donald Trump's tariffs upended global economic norms, with the trade-dependent nations expected to issue a joint message of deep concern. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will also attempt to increase pressure on Myanmar's military junta and iron out remaining issues with East Timor's application to join the bloc. ASEAN's strategy of nurturing diverse economic alliances was on full display as Chinese Premier Li Qiang touched down in the Malaysian capital, a day ahead of talks with the bloc and Gulf states. In opening remarks given to media but not delivered in his speech, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said: 'A transition in the geopolitical order is underway and the global trading system is under further strain, with the recent imposition of US unilateral tariffs.' 'Protectionism is resurging as we bear witness to multilateralism breaking apart at the seams,' he added. Trump cast international markets into turmoil in April when he announced wide-ranging tariffs, before agreeing to pause them for most countries for 90 days. Bilateral talks between the ASEAN member states and Washington are in progress, but the bloc is still presenting a united front, according to Malaysia, which holds the rotating ASEAN chairmanship this year. 'Deep concern' on tariffs According to a draft statement seen by AFP, ASEAN will express 'deep concern… over the imposition of unilateral tariff measures', saying they 'pose complex and multidimensional challenges' to the bloc. But ASEAN said this year it would not impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States. Instead, it is looking at broadening its scope with other trading blocs, including the European Union, as well as beefing up trade between member states, Malaysia's trade minister said Sunday. Tuesday's talks with Li and the Gulf Cooperation Council — a bloc made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — underscores this effort to maintain a broad network of trading partners. 'It's not just a photo-op. It actually demonstrates how ASEAN is attempting to engage strategically with various blocs, a strategy we might term multi-alignment diplomacy,' said Khoo Ying Hooi from Malaya University. Anwar said Monday he had written to Trump to request an ASEAN-US summit this year — showing 'we observe seriously the spirit of centrality'. His foreign minister Mohamad Hasan said Sunday that the United States had not yet responded. ASEAN's relationship with rival power China is hardly uncomplicated either. On Monday, Philippines leader Ferdinand Marcos told his regional counterparts there was an 'urgent need' to adopt a legally binding code of conduct in the South China Sea. Beijing has territorial disputes in the area with five ASEAN member states, with China and the Philippines having engaged in months of confrontations in the contested waters. The adoption of a code of conduct should be accelerated 'to safeguard maritime rights, promote stability, and prevent miscalculations at sea', Marcos said, according a copy of his speech released by the Philippine government. Myanmar conflict On Sunday, Malaysia tried to increase pressure on member state Myanmar's junta, whose leaders are barred from ASEAN summits over a lack of progress on a five-point peace deal agreed on by the bloc in 2021. 'One thing for sure that we agreed is that Myanmar's government… must comply with the five points consensus which they themselves agreed on as one of the signatories,' Mohamad said. ASEAN has led so far fruitless diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, triggered when the junta staged a coup deposing civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. Mohamad called Sunday for an extension and expansion of a ceasefire declared after a deadly earthquake, despite ongoing fighting bringing its effectiveness into question. Meanwhile, ASEAN may add an 11th member state before the end of the year, the top diplomat said. East Timor, Asia's youngest nation, 'has made meaningful progress in implementing a roadmap' and there is 'strong support' for it to 'hopefully' join the bloc by the next summit in October, he said. After meeting leaders on Monday, East Timor's prime minister told reporters he believed his country would become a full member this year, despite still needing to fulfil a few remaining criteria. 'Because everyone supports. Everybody. It was incredible,' Xanana Gusmao told reporters.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Southeast Asian leaders meet to talk tariffs, truce and East Timor
Southeast Asian leaders met Monday in Kuala Lumpur for their first summit since Donald Trump's tariff policies upended global economic norms, with the trade-dependent nations expected to issue a joint message of deep concern over recent US actions. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will also tackle pressing regional issues, attempting to increase pressure on Myanmar's military junta and iron out remaining issues with East Timor's application to join the bloc. On Tuesday the leaders will be joined in Malaysia -- which holds ASEAN's rotating chairmanship -- by representatives of China and Gulf states, as they seek to solidify diverse economic alliances in the face of future uncertainty. ASEAN has shown "remarkable resilience against a backdrop of increasingly complex and sobering global developments" including the US tariffs, said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as he opened the summit. Trump cast international markets into turmoil in April when he announced wide-ranging tariffs on Washington's trading partners, before the US president agreed to pause them for most countries for 90 days. Bilateral talks between ASEAN member states and Washington are in progress, but the bloc is still presenting a united front, Anwar said. Malaysia's trade minister Zafrul Aziz said Sunday it remains "important to continue to have a dialogue with the United States". However, "it's important that we stand behind the principles of multilateralism", he told a press conference. - 'Deep concern' on tariffs - According to a draft statement seen by AFP, ASEAN will express "deep concern... over the imposition of unilateral tariff measures", saying they "pose complex and multidimensional challenges" to the bloc. But ASEAN said earlier this year it would not impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States. Instead, it is looking at broadening its scope with other trading blocs including the European Union, as well as beefing up trade between member states themselves, Zafrul said. The presence on Tuesday of Chinese Premier Li Qiang and the Gulf Cooperation Council -- a bloc made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- underscores this. "It's not just a photo-op. It actually demonstrates how ASEAN is attempting to engage strategically with various blocs, a strategy we might term multi-alignment diplomacy," said Khoo Ying Hooi from Malaya University. Anwar said Monday he had written to Trump to request an ASEAN-US summit this year -- showing "we observe seriously the spirit of centrality". His foreign minister Mohamad Hasan said Sunday that the United States had not yet responded to the letter. "Ideally ASEAN members should be asking themselves whether maintaining neutrality is enough?" Adib Zalkapli from risk advisory firm Viewfinder Global Affairs told AFP. Trump's tariffs have shown that "ASEAN member states cannot remain as passive bystanders waiting for other major powers to set the global agenda", he said. - Myanmar conflict - On Sunday Malaysia tried to up pressure on member state Myanmar's military junta, whose leaders are barred from ASEAN summits over a lack of progress on a five-point peace deal agreed on by the bloc in 2021. "One thing for sure that we agreed is that Myanmar's government... must comply with the five points consensus which they themselves agreed on as one of the signatories," Mohamad said. ASEAN has led so far fruitless diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, triggered when the junta staged a coup deposing civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. Mohamad called Sunday for an extension and expansion of a ceasefire declared after a deadly earthquake, despite ongoing fighting bringing its effectiveness into question. Meanwhile ASEAN may add an 11th member state before the end of the year, the top diplomat said. East Timor, Asia's youngest nation, "has made meaningful progress in implementing a roadmap" and there is "strong support" for it to join the bloc, he said. ASEAN member states will "now begin undertaking their respective domestic legal procedure" with a view to finalising its accession by the next summit in October "hopefully", Mohamad said. llk-jhe-reb/rsc
France 24
6 days ago
- Business
- France 24
Southeast Asian leaders meet to talk tariffs, truce and East Timor
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will also tackle pressing regional issues, attempting to increase pressure on Myanmar's military junta and iron out remaining issues with East Timor's application to join the bloc. On Tuesday the leaders will be joined in Kuala Lumpur by representatives of China and Gulf states, as they seek to solidify diverse economic alliances in the face of future uncertainty. Trump cast international markets into turmoil in April when he announced wide-ranging tariffs on Washington's trading partners, before the US president agreed to pause them for most countries for 90 days. Bilateral talks between ASEAN member states and Washington are in progress, but the bloc must still present a united front, Malaysia -- which holds the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN -- said before the summit. "We believe that it's important to continue to have a dialogue with the United States," said Malaysian trade minister Zafrul Aziz. However, "it's important that we stand behind the principles of multilateralism where we believe in a rule-based global trading order with the World Trade Organization at its core", he told a press conference Sunday. 'Deep concern' on tariffs According to a draft statement seen by AFP, ASEAN will express "deep concern... over the imposition of unilateral tariff measures", saying they "pose complex and multidimensional challenges" to the bloc. But ASEAN said earlier this year it would not impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States. Instead, it is looking at broadening its scope with other trading blocs including the European Union, as well as beefing up trade between member states themselves, Zafrul said. The presence on Tuesday of Chinese Premier Li Qiang and the Gulf Cooperation Council -- a bloc made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- underscores this. "It's not just a photo-op. It actually demonstrates how ASEAN is attempting to engage strategically with various blocs, a strategy we might term multi-alignment diplomacy," said Khoo Ying Hooi from Malaya University. In contrast, Malaysian foreign minister Mohamad Hasan said Sunday that the United States had not yet responded to a letter requesting a special ASEAN-US summit this year. "Ideally ASEAN members should be asking themselves whether maintaining neutrality is enough?" Adib Zalkapli from risk advisory firm Viewfinder Global Affairs told AFP. Trump's tariffs have shown that "ASEAN member states cannot remain as passive bystanders waiting for other major powers to set the global agenda", he said. - Myanmar conflict - On Sunday Malaysia tried to up pressure on member state Myanmar's military junta, whose leaders are barred from ASEAN summits over a lack of progress on a five-point peace deal agreed on by the bloc in 2021. "One thing for sure that we agreed is that Myanmar's government... must comply with the five points consensus which they themselves agreed on as one of the signatories," Mohamad said. ASEAN has led so far fruitless diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, triggered when the junta staged a coup deposing civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. Mohamad called Sunday for an extension and expansion of a ceasefire declared after a deadly earthquake, despite ongoing fighting bringing its effectiveness into question. Meanwhile ASEAN may add an 11th member state before the end of the year, the top diplomat said. East Timor, Asia's youngest nation, "has made meaningful progress in implementing a roadmap" and there is "strong support" for it to join the bloc, he said. ASEAN member states will "now begin undertaking their respective domestic legal procedure" with a view to finalising its accession by the next summit in October "hopefully", Mohamad said.
