Latest news with #ASEANMinisters
Washington Post
09-07-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Southeast Asian foreign ministers meet as US tariffs loom
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned Wednesday that global trade is being weaponized as Southeast Asia's foreign ministers opened an annual meeting while facing the looming threat of U.S. trade tariffs . The threat of U.S. tariffs has jolted the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a 10-member bloc that includes some of the world's most trade-dependent economies.
Associated Press
09-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Southeast Asian foreign ministers meet as US tariffs loom
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned Wednesday that global trade is being weaponized as Southeast Asia's foreign ministers opened an annual meeting while facing the looming threat of U.S. trade tariffs. The threat of U.S. tariffs has jolted the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a 10-member bloc that includes some of the world's most trade-dependent economies. Six ASEAN members are among the 14 countries that could see duties on their exports to the U.S. skyrocket on Aug. 1. Launching the Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers' meeting, Anwar said the world is now witnessing an era where 'power unsettles principle' and 'tools once used to generate growth are now wielded to pressure, isolate and contain.' Without mentioning the U.S. by name, he again urged ASEAN to work together to respond to trade threats. 'Our cohesion must not end at declarations,' he said, calling for members to increase intra-ASEAN trade, invest in regional integration, and reduce strategic dependencies on external powers. 'This is no passing storm,' he said. 'It is the new weather of our time.' Trump first announced tariffs in April, but then delayed them for 90 days to allow for deals. On Tuesday, he announced new tariff with rates of between 25%-40% on 14 countries, which will go into effect Aug. 1 unless new deals are struck. He also threatened to increase tariffs if any countries retaliate. Many ASEAN members have launched bilateral talks with the U.S., but officials have said they plan to hold an ASEAN-U.S. summit later this year to seek a common position. So far, only Vietnam has secured a deal, bringing down its tariffs from 46% to 20%. The list threatens 36% tariffs for Thailand and Cambodia, 32% for Indonesia, 25% for Malaysia, and 40% for Laos and war-torn Myanmar. In addition to confronting trade fallout, the bloc faces mounting internal challenges. The ongoing civil war in Myanmar and a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia are also on the agenda. The gathering in Malaysia will be immediately followed by a series of critical meetings with ASEAN's major trade partners, including the United States, China, Japan, Russia, India, and the European Union, scheduled for Thursday and Friday. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who last week cancelled trips to Japan and South Korea, will arrive Thursday for the talks on his first visit to Asia. Others visiting foreign ministers include China's Wang Yi and Sergei Lavrov of Russia. Analysts said these talks will test ASEAN's ability to assert its voice amid escalating geopolitical tensions. The bloc hopes to reinforce its commitment to a rules-based trade order while resisting pressure to align exclusively with any one global power. 'ASEAN must be among those who choose to stand for rules, even when others choose retreat,' Anwar said. Analysts said Rubio's presence signaled renewed U.S. engagement in the region. It will be a reminder to 'the region that Washington remains its most vital economic and security partner,' said Collins Chong Yew Keat, a foreign affairs, strategy and security analyst with Universiti Malay. But he said that U.S. support may now come with clearer expectations. 'Trump's administration, while still offering the strongest military deterrence and market access, expects ASEAN to stop exploiting this security umbrella while cozying up economically to China,' he said.
CTV News
25-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
ASEAN must deepen integration to tackle U.S. tariffs, Malaysia says
Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan delivers an opening speech at the opening ceremony of the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, May 25, 2025.(AP Photo/Vincent Thian) KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Southeast Asian nations must accelerate regional economic integration, diversify their markets and stay united to tackle the fallout from global trade disruptions resulting from sweeping U.S. tariffs, Malaysia's foreign minister said Sunday. Mohamad Hasan, at a meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, also reiterated the bloc's call for an end to Myanmar's civil war and downplayed plans of Myanmar's ruling military to hold elections later this year as a 'whitewash.' 'ASEAN nations are among those most heavily affected by the U.S.-imposed tariffs. The U.S.–China trade war is dramatically disrupting production and trade patterns worldwide. A global economic slowdown is likely to happen,' Mohamad said. 'We must seize this moment to deepen regional economic integration, so that we can better shield our region from external shocks.' ASEAN countries, many of which rely on exports to the U.S., are reeling from tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration ranging from 10 per cent to 49 per cent. Six of the bloc's 10 members are among the worst-hit, likely affecting ASEAN's targeted growth forecast of 4.7 per cent this year, trade officials said. When Trump last month announced a 90-day pause on the tariffs, countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam swiftly began trade negotiations with Washington. Mohamad said that Malaysia, ASEAN's current chair, has requested a special summit with the U.S. as a bloc to discuss tariffs and is hopeful it could happen later this year. He said ASEAN is also exploring making Ukraine its dialogue partner while accelerating the process of admitting East Timor as its 11th member. ASEAN leaders meet Monday in an annual summit that will be followed by a joint meeting Tuesday with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. ASEAN's unity is crucial as the region grapples with climate change and disruption from the malevolent use of artificial intelligence and other unregulated technologies, Mohamad said, adding that the bloc will be tested by external pressure, including a superpower rivalry. Mohamad said the conflict in Myanmar, where the military seized power in 2021, had spilled over its borders with a growing number of refugees fleeing to neighboring nations and rising transborder and cybercrimes, making it now 'an ASEAN issue.' He said ASEAN does not prefer any foreign intervention as the bloc should resolve its own internal affairs. Myanmar's military leaders are barred from ASEAN meetings after refusing to comply with the bloc's peace plan, which includes negotiations and delivery of humanitarian aid. Mohamad said the March earthquake that left more than 3,700 dead had opened up opportunity for ASEAN to reach out to warring parties with the aim of creating a dialogue toward peace. Mohamad said the bloc plans to appoint a permanent envoy to Myanmar with a three-year term to bolster the process, and that he would visit Myanmar in June. Currently an envoy is appointed each year from the country holding the bloc's rotating chair. Mohamad said that violence must cease before any elections in Myanmar, which he said would be futile if there was just partial participation. Opposition parties are mostly either banned from contesting or are boycotting elections. It is also unclear how the polls can be carried out as the military has reportedly lost control of a large part of Myanmar. 'What is the point if it's just a whitewash to cover up in the eyes of the international community?' Mohamad said. Eileen Ng, The Associated Press
Arab News
25-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
ASEAN must deepen integration and stay united to tackle US tariffs, Malaysia says
KUALA LUMPUR: Southeast Asian nations must accelerate regional economic integration, diversify their markets and stay united to tackle the fallout from global trade disruptions resulting from sweeping US tariff hikes, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said Sunday. Mohamad, opening a meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, also reiterated the bloc's call to warring parties in Myanmar to cease hostilities in a deadly civil war that has killed thousands and displaced millions of people since a 2021 government takeover by the military. 'ASEAN nations are among those most heavily affected by the US-imposed tariffs. The US–China trade war is dramatically disrupting production and trade patterns worldwide. A global economic slowdown is likely to happen,' Mohamad said. 'We must seize this moment to deepen regional economic integration, so that we can better shield our region from external shocks.' ASEAN countries, many of which rely on exports to the US, are reeling from tariffs imposed by the Trump administration ranging from 10 percent to 49 percent. Six of the association's 10 member nations were among the worst-hit with tarrifs ranging from 32 percent to 49 percent. ASEAN unsuccessfully sought an initial meeting with the US as a bloc. When US President Donald Trump last month announced a 90-day pause on the tariffs, countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam swiftly began trade negotiations with Washington. The meeting of foreign ministers preceded a planned ASEAN leaders' summit Monday in Malaysia, the bloc's current chair. A summit is expected to follow on Tuesday with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. ASEAN's unity is crucial as the region grapples with impacts of climate change and disruption from the malevolent use of artificial intelligence and other unregulated techologies, Mohamad said, adding that ASEAN's centrality will be tested by external pressure, including a superpower rivalry. 'External pressures are rising, and the scope of challenges has never had higher stakes,' he said. ''It is therefore crucial that we reinforce the ties that bind us, so as to not unravel under external pressures. For ASEAN, unity is now more important than ever.' ASEAN members have refused to take sides, engaging the US and China, which are both key regional trading and investment partners. ASEAN remained committed to help war-torn Myanmar, which is recovering from a March earthquake that killed more than 3,700 people, Mohamad said. Myanmar's military leaders were barred from attending ASEAN meetings after refusing to comply with ASEAN's peace plan, which includes negotiations and delivery of humanitarian aid. 'We call on the stakeholders in Myanmar to cease hostilities, and to extend and expand the ceasefire, to facilitate the long and difficult path toward recovery,' Mohamad said. Myanmar's crisis has challenged the credibility of ASEAN, which has been hampered by its long-held policy of non-interference in each other's affairs. After informal consultations with bloc members, Mohamad said Saturday that ASEAN has to step up efforts as Myanmar's problems had spilled over borders with a growing number of refugees fleeing to neighboring nations and rising transborder crime. Malaysia's efforts now focus on de-escalation of violence and greater access to humanitarian aid, but he said plans for political dialogue between the conflicting parties would be challenging due to a 'trust deficit.'
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ASEAN must stay united to fight US tariffs: Malaysia
Southeast Asian nations must accelerate regional economic integration, diversify their markets and stay united to tackle the fallout from global trade disruptions resulting from sweeping US tariff hikes. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan's call for a united front came in his opening speech at a meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. He also reiterated the bloc's call to warring parties in Myanmar to end hostilities in a deadly civil war that has killed thousands and displaced millions of people since a 2021 government takeover by the military. "ASEAN nations are among those most heavily affected by the US-imposed tariffs," he said. The US–China trade war is dramatically disrupting production and trade patterns worldwide. "A global economic slowdown is likely to happen," Mohamad said. "We must seize this moment to deepen regional economic integration, so that we can better shield our region from external shocks." ASEAN countries, many of which rely on exports to the US, are reeling from tariffs imposed by the Trump administration ranging from 10 per cent to 49 per cent. Six of the association's 10 member nations were among the worst-hit with tariffs ranging from 32 per cent to 49 per cent. ASEAN unsuccessfully sought an initial meeting with the US as a bloc. When US President Donald Trump last month announced a 90-day pause on the tariffs, countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam swiftly began trade negotiations with Washington. The meeting of foreign ministers preceded a planned ASEAN leaders' summit Monday in Malaysia, the bloc's current chair. A summit is expected to follow on Tuesday with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and leaders from the Gulf Co-operation Council comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. ASEAN's unity is crucial as the region grapples with impacts of climate change and disruption from the malevolent use of artificial intelligence and other unregulated technologies, Mohamad said, adding that ASEAN's centrality will be tested by external pressure, including a superpower rivalry. "External pressures are rising, and the scope of challenges has never had higher stakes," he said. "It is therefore crucial that we reinforce the ties that bind us, so as to not unravel under external pressures. For ASEAN, unity is now more important than ever." ASEAN remained committed to help war-torn Myanmar, which is recovering from a March earthquake that killed more than 3700 people, Mohamad said. Myanmar's military leaders were barred from attending ASEAN meetings after refusing to comply with ASEAN's peace plan, which includes negotiations and delivery of humanitarian aid.
