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AsiaOne
7 days ago
- Business
- AsiaOne
Rubio to make first Asia trip as Trump unveils tariffs on host and allies, World News
WASHINGTON — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Malaysia this week for meetings of Southeast Asian Nations in his first trip to Asia as America's top diplomat, the State Department said on Monday (July 7), even as President Donald Trump announced hefty tariffs on the hosts and other regional partners and allies. The State Department billed the July 8-12 trip as a move to reaffirm Washington's commitment to the Indo-Pacific. Hours later, Trump said he would impose 25 per cent tariffs from Aug 1 on imports from Japan and South Korea, the key US regional allies and vital partners in countering China's growing might. Trump also announced plans for tariffs on Malaysia and five other countries in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, whose ministers Rubio will join for meetings in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia faces a 25 per cent tariff, Laos and Myanmar 40 per cent, Cambodia and US ally Thailand 36 per cent, and Indonesia 32 per cent. Rubio will seek to firm up US relationships with partners and allies unnerved by Trump's global tariff strategy. Trump's announcements seemed certain to make that task harder. The trip has been seen as part of a renewed US focus on the Indo-Pacific and an effort to look beyond conflicts in the Middle East and Europe that have consumed much of the Trump administration's attention. "Top topics that he's going to want to hit, obviously, are to reaffirm our commitment to East Asia, to Asean, to the Indo-Pacific, and not just... for its own sake," a senior State Department official told reporters. "I think a key message that the secretary likes to deliver is that we're committed, and we prioritise it because it is in America's interests, right? It promotes American prosperity and it promotes American security." The official said Rubio would be prepared to discuss trade, including reiterating that the need to rebalance US trade relationships is significant and echoing messages from the White House and the US Trade Representative. Asean countries have been nervous about Trump's tariffs and questioned the willingness of his "America First" administration to fully engage diplomatically and economically with the region. "There is a hunger to be reassured that the US actually views the Indo-Pacific as the primary theatre of US interests, key to US national security," said Greg Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Programme at Washington's Centre for Strategic and International Studies. On Sunday, Trump said the US was close to finalising several trade pacts and would notify other countries by July 9 of higher tariff rates. He also sent a message to BRICS group of developing nations as its leaders met in Brazil, threatening an additional 10 per cent tariff on any that align themselves with "anti-American" policies. The BRICS countries include Indonesia, as well as China and India. Last week, Trump announced he had reached a trade agreement with important Southeast Asian partner and Asean member Vietnam and could reach one with India. But he cast doubt on a possible deal with Japan, which is not only Washington's main Asian ally, but a major investor in the US Rubio has yet to visit Japan, or South Korea, the other main US ally in Northeast Asia, since taking office in January, even though Washington sees the Indo-Pacific as its main strategic priority given the perceived threat from China. South Korea's presidential security adviser Wi Sung-lac headed to Washington on Sunday for trade and defence talks, with Seoul seeking to head off US tariffs. He aims to meet with Rubio and discuss a possible summit between Trump and President Lee Jae-myung, who took office last month. [[nid:719965]]
India Today
7 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Rubio heads to Asia as Trump slaps tariffs on host nations and allies
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Malaysia this week formeetings of Southeast Asian Nations in his first trip to Asia as America's top diplomat, the State Department said on Monday, even as President Donald Trump announced hefty tariffs on the hosts and other regional partners and State Department billed the July 8-12 trip as a move to reaffirm Washington's commitment to the Indo-Pacific. Hours later, Trump said he would impose 25% tariffs from August 1 on imports from Japan and South Korea, the key US regional allies and vital partners in countering China's growing also announced plans for tariffs on Malaysia and five other countries in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, whose ministers Rubio will join for meetings in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia faces a 25 percent tariff, Laos and Myanmar 40%, Cambodia and US ally Thailand 36 percent, and Indonesia 32 will seek to firm up US relationships with partners and allies unnerved by Trump's global tariff strategy. Trump's announcement seemed certain to make that task trip has been seen as part of a renewed US focus on the Indo-Pacific and an effort to look beyond conflicts in the Middle East and Europe that have consumed much of the Trump administration's attention."Top topics that he's going to want to hit, obviously, are to reaffirm our commitment to East Asia, to ASEAN, to the Indo-Pacific, and not just ... for its own sake," a senior State Department official told reporters."I think a key message that the secretary likes to deliver is that we're committed, and we prioritise it because it is in America's interests, right? It promotes American prosperity and it promotes American security."The official said Rubio would be prepared to discuss trade, including reiterating that the need to rebalance US trade relationships is significant and echoing messages from the White House and the US Trade countries have been nervous about Trump's tariffs and questioned the willingness of his "America First" administration to fully engage diplomatically and economically with the region."There is a hunger to be reassured that the US actually views the Indo-Pacific as the primary theatre of US interests, key to US national security," said Greg Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Program at Washington's Centre for Strategic and International Sunday, Trump said the US was close to finalising several trade pacts and would notify other countries by July 9 of higher tariff also sent a message to Brics group of developing nations as its leaders met in Brazil, threatening an additional 10% tariff on any that align themselves with "anti-American" Brics countries include Indonesia, as well as China and week, Trump announced he had reached a trade agreement with important Southeast Asian partner and ASEAN member Vietnam and could reach one with India. But he cast doubt on a possible deal with Japan, which is not only Washington's main Asian ally, but a major investor in the has yet to visit Japan, or South Korea, the other main US ally in Northeast Asia, since taking office in January, even though Washington sees the Indo-Pacific as its main strategic priority given the perceived threat from Korea's presidential security adviser Wi Sung-lac headed to Washington on Sunday for trade and defence talks, with Seoul seeking to head off US aims to meet with Rubio and discuss a possible summit between Trump and President Lee Jae Myung, who took office last month.- EndsMust Watch
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Rubio to make first Asia trip as Trump unveils tariffs on host and allies
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Malaysia this week for meetings of Southeast Asian Nations in his first trip to Asia as America's top diplomat, the State Department said on Monday, even as President Donald Trump announced hefty tariffs on the hosts and other regional partners and allies. The State Department billed the July 8–12 trip as a move to reaffirm Washington's commitment to the Indo-Pacific. Hours later, Trump said he would impose 25 per cent tariffs from August 1 on imports from Japan and South Korea, the key US regional allies and vital partners in countering China's growing might. Trump also announced plans for tariffs on Malaysia and five other countries in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, whose ministers Rubio will join for meetings in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia faces a 25 per cent tariff, Laos and Myanmar 40 per cent, Cambodia and US ally Thailand 36 per cent, and Indonesia 32 per cent. Rubio will seek to firm up US relationships with partners and allies unnerved by Trump's global tariff strategy. Trump's announcements seemed certain to make that task harder. The trip has been seen as part of a renewed US focus on the Indo-Pacific and an effort to look beyond conflicts in the Middle East and Europe that have consumed much of the Trump administration's attention. "Top topics that he's going to want to hit, obviously, are to reaffirm our commitment to East Asia, to Asean, to the Indo-Pacific, and not just ... for its own sake," a senior State Department official told reporters. "I think a key message that the secretary likes to deliver is that we're committed, and we prioritise it because it is in America's interests, right? It promotes American prosperity and it promotes American security." The official said Rubio would be prepared to discuss trade, including reiterating that the need to rebalance US trade relationships is significant and echoing messages from the White House and the US Trade Representative. Asean countries have been nervous about Trump's tariffs and questioned the willingness of his "America First" administration to fully engage diplomatically and economically with the region. "There is a hunger to be reassured that the US actually views the Indo-Pacific as the primary theatre of US interests, key to US national security," said Greg Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Programme at Washington's Centre for Strategic and International Studies. On Sunday, Trump said the US was close to finalising several trade pacts and would notify other countries by July 9 of higher tariff rates. He also sent a message to BRICS group of developing nations as its leaders met in Brazil, threatening an additional 10 per cent tariff on any that align themselves with "anti-American" policies. The BRICS countries include Indonesia, as well as China and India. Last week, Trump announced he had reached a trade agreement with important Southeast Asian partner and Asean member Vietnam and could reach one with India. But he cast doubt on a possible deal with Japan, which is not only Washington's main Asian ally, but a major investor in the US. Rubio has yet to visit Japan, or South Korea, the other main US ally in Northeast Asia, since taking office in January, even though Washington sees the Indo-Pacific as its main strategic priority given the perceived threat from China. South Korea's presidential security adviser Wi Sung-lac headed to Washington on Sunday for trade and defence talks, with Seoul seeking to head off US tariffs. He aims to meet with Rubio and discuss a possible summit between Trump and President Lee Jae Myung, who took office last month.
Japan Today
7 days ago
- Business
- Japan Today
Rubio to make first visit to Asia for ASEAN meeting in Malaysia
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reacts as he testifies at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on U.S. President Donald Trump's State Department budget request for the Department of State, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 20, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo By Daphne Psaledakis and David Brunnstrom U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Malaysia later this week to attend a meeting of Southeast Asian Nations in his first trip to Asia as America's top diplomat, the State Department said on Monday. Rubio will travel July 8-12 and take part in meetings in Kuala Lumpur with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, whose ministers are gathering there, the State Department said in a statement. He is also scheduled to meet with senior Malaysian government officials. Rubio will seek to firm up U.S. relationships with partners and allies in the region, who have been unnerved by President Donald Trump's global tariff strategy. The trip is part of a renewed U.S. focus on the Indo-Pacific region and represents an effort by the Trump administration to look beyond the conflicts in the Middle East and Europe that have consumed much of its attention. "Top topics that he's going to want to hit, obviously, are to reaffirm our commitment to East Asia, to ASEAN, to the Indo-Pacific, and not just ... for its own sake," a senior State Department official told reporters. "I think a key message that the secretary likes to deliver is that we're committed, and we prioritize it because it is in America's interests, right? It promotes American prosperity and it promotes American security." The official added that Rubio would be prepared to discuss trade, which is likely to come up during the trip, including reiterating that the need to rebalance the United States' trade relationships is significant and echoing any messages from the White House and United States Trade Representative. ASEAN countries have been nervous about Trump's tariffs and have questioned the willingness of his "America First" administration to fully engage diplomatically and economically with the region. "There is a hunger to be reassured that the U.S. actually views the Indo-Pacific as the primary theater of U.S. interests, key to U.S. national security," said Greg Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Program at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies. TRADE PACTS Trump on Sunday said the U.S. was close to finalizing several trade pacts and would notify other countries by July 9 of higher tariff rates. He said they would not take effect until August 1, a three-week reprieve. He also sent a message to members of the developing nations' BRICS group as its leaders met in Brazil, threatening an additional 10% tariff on any BRICS countries aligning themselves with "anti-American" policies. The BRICS includes ASEAN member Indonesia, as well as China and India. Trump last week announced he reached a trade agreement with important Southeast Asian partner and ASEAN member Vietnam and could reach one with India, but cast doubt on a possible deal with Japan, Washington's main Indo-Pacific ally and a major importer and investor in the United States. Rubio has yet to visit Japan, or neighboring South Korea, the other major U.S. ally in Northeast Asia, since taking office in January, even though Washington sees the Indo-Pacific as its main strategic priority given the perceived threat posed by China. South Korea's presidential security adviser Wi Sung-lac headed to Washington on Sunday for trade and defense talks, with Seoul seeking an extension of a freeze on U.S. tariffs. Wi's office said he would be in Washington until Tuesday and aimed to meet with Rubio and discuss a possible summit between Trump and President Lee Jae Myung, who took office last month. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
The Advertiser
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Rubio to make first visit to Indo-Pacific region
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Malaysia later this week to attend a meeting of Southeast Asian Nations in his first visit to the Indo-Pacific region as America's top diplomat. Rubio will travel July 8-12 and will take part in meetings in Kuala Lumpur with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, whose foreign ministers are gathering there, the State Department said. Rubio will seek to firm up US relationships with partners and allies in the region, who have been unnerved by President Donald Trump's global tariff offensive. The trip is part of a renewed US focus on the Indo-Pacific and represents an effort by the Trump administration to look beyond the conflicts in the Middle East and Europe that have so far consumed much of its attention. Last week, Rubio hosted Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and counterparts from India and Japan. They announced a joint initiative to ensure the supply of critical minerals, a vital sector for high-tech applications dominated by Washington's main strategic rival, China. Trump also announced that he reached a trade agreement with an important Southeast Asian partner and ASEAN member Vietnam and could reach one with India, but cast doubt on a possible deal with Japan, Washington's main Indo-Pacific ally and a major importer and investor in the United States. Rubio has yet to visit Japan or neighbouring South Korea, the other major US ally in north-east Asia, since taking office in January, even though Washington sees the Indo-Pacific as its main strategic priority given the perceived threat posed by China. ASEAN countries have been nervous about Trump's tariff offensive and have questioned the willingness of his "America First" administration to fully engage diplomatically and economically with the region. "There is a hunger to be reassured that the US actually views the Indo-Pacific as the primary theatre of US interests, key to US national security," said Greg Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Program at Washington's Centre for Strategic and International Studies. Other ASEAN countries may be encouraged by Vietnam's deal with Trump. "This should smooth the way for continued pragmatic security engagement between the US and Vietnam, and hopefully provide a pathway for others in Southeast Asia to get similar deals without having to give up much," Poling said. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Malaysia later this week to attend a meeting of Southeast Asian Nations in his first visit to the Indo-Pacific region as America's top diplomat. Rubio will travel July 8-12 and will take part in meetings in Kuala Lumpur with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, whose foreign ministers are gathering there, the State Department said. Rubio will seek to firm up US relationships with partners and allies in the region, who have been unnerved by President Donald Trump's global tariff offensive. The trip is part of a renewed US focus on the Indo-Pacific and represents an effort by the Trump administration to look beyond the conflicts in the Middle East and Europe that have so far consumed much of its attention. Last week, Rubio hosted Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and counterparts from India and Japan. They announced a joint initiative to ensure the supply of critical minerals, a vital sector for high-tech applications dominated by Washington's main strategic rival, China. Trump also announced that he reached a trade agreement with an important Southeast Asian partner and ASEAN member Vietnam and could reach one with India, but cast doubt on a possible deal with Japan, Washington's main Indo-Pacific ally and a major importer and investor in the United States. Rubio has yet to visit Japan or neighbouring South Korea, the other major US ally in north-east Asia, since taking office in January, even though Washington sees the Indo-Pacific as its main strategic priority given the perceived threat posed by China. ASEAN countries have been nervous about Trump's tariff offensive and have questioned the willingness of his "America First" administration to fully engage diplomatically and economically with the region. "There is a hunger to be reassured that the US actually views the Indo-Pacific as the primary theatre of US interests, key to US national security," said Greg Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Program at Washington's Centre for Strategic and International Studies. Other ASEAN countries may be encouraged by Vietnam's deal with Trump. "This should smooth the way for continued pragmatic security engagement between the US and Vietnam, and hopefully provide a pathway for others in Southeast Asia to get similar deals without having to give up much," Poling said. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Malaysia later this week to attend a meeting of Southeast Asian Nations in his first visit to the Indo-Pacific region as America's top diplomat. Rubio will travel July 8-12 and will take part in meetings in Kuala Lumpur with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, whose foreign ministers are gathering there, the State Department said. Rubio will seek to firm up US relationships with partners and allies in the region, who have been unnerved by President Donald Trump's global tariff offensive. The trip is part of a renewed US focus on the Indo-Pacific and represents an effort by the Trump administration to look beyond the conflicts in the Middle East and Europe that have so far consumed much of its attention. Last week, Rubio hosted Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and counterparts from India and Japan. They announced a joint initiative to ensure the supply of critical minerals, a vital sector for high-tech applications dominated by Washington's main strategic rival, China. Trump also announced that he reached a trade agreement with an important Southeast Asian partner and ASEAN member Vietnam and could reach one with India, but cast doubt on a possible deal with Japan, Washington's main Indo-Pacific ally and a major importer and investor in the United States. Rubio has yet to visit Japan or neighbouring South Korea, the other major US ally in north-east Asia, since taking office in January, even though Washington sees the Indo-Pacific as its main strategic priority given the perceived threat posed by China. ASEAN countries have been nervous about Trump's tariff offensive and have questioned the willingness of his "America First" administration to fully engage diplomatically and economically with the region. "There is a hunger to be reassured that the US actually views the Indo-Pacific as the primary theatre of US interests, key to US national security," said Greg Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Program at Washington's Centre for Strategic and International Studies. Other ASEAN countries may be encouraged by Vietnam's deal with Trump. "This should smooth the way for continued pragmatic security engagement between the US and Vietnam, and hopefully provide a pathway for others in Southeast Asia to get similar deals without having to give up much," Poling said. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Malaysia later this week to attend a meeting of Southeast Asian Nations in his first visit to the Indo-Pacific region as America's top diplomat. Rubio will travel July 8-12 and will take part in meetings in Kuala Lumpur with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, whose foreign ministers are gathering there, the State Department said. Rubio will seek to firm up US relationships with partners and allies in the region, who have been unnerved by President Donald Trump's global tariff offensive. The trip is part of a renewed US focus on the Indo-Pacific and represents an effort by the Trump administration to look beyond the conflicts in the Middle East and Europe that have so far consumed much of its attention. Last week, Rubio hosted Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and counterparts from India and Japan. They announced a joint initiative to ensure the supply of critical minerals, a vital sector for high-tech applications dominated by Washington's main strategic rival, China. Trump also announced that he reached a trade agreement with an important Southeast Asian partner and ASEAN member Vietnam and could reach one with India, but cast doubt on a possible deal with Japan, Washington's main Indo-Pacific ally and a major importer and investor in the United States. Rubio has yet to visit Japan or neighbouring South Korea, the other major US ally in north-east Asia, since taking office in January, even though Washington sees the Indo-Pacific as its main strategic priority given the perceived threat posed by China. ASEAN countries have been nervous about Trump's tariff offensive and have questioned the willingness of his "America First" administration to fully engage diplomatically and economically with the region. "There is a hunger to be reassured that the US actually views the Indo-Pacific as the primary theatre of US interests, key to US national security," said Greg Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Program at Washington's Centre for Strategic and International Studies. Other ASEAN countries may be encouraged by Vietnam's deal with Trump. "This should smooth the way for continued pragmatic security engagement between the US and Vietnam, and hopefully provide a pathway for others in Southeast Asia to get similar deals without having to give up much," Poling said.
