Asean To Act In Unison On Tariffs

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 Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says member countries can pursue their own negotiations but not at the expense of fellow members.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaking at a press conference following the conclusion of the 46th Asean Summit and related summits in Kuala Lumpur today.KUALA LUMPUR: Asean has agreed that any decision on tariffs must be based on collective consensus to prevent undermining member states, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today
Speaking at a press conference after the 46th Asean Summit and related summits ended today, Anwar said there is a need to protect the interests of approximately 660 million people across the region.
“On (the US) tariffs, while proceeding with bilateral negotiations, the consensus was that there should be some form of understanding within Asean, and that any decision should not come at the expense of other countries,” he said.
On April 3, US president Donald Trump announced a series of new tariffs that directly increased import duties on Southeast Asian imports, hitting Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam the hardest. Malaysia was slapped with a 24% tariff while Singapore received the lowest of 10%.
Despite the blow, Asean economic ministers agreed not to impose retaliatory measures, opting instead to seek a “frank and constructive” dialogue with Washington to address trade issues.
Anwar also pushed back against claims that Asean is shifting closer to China, saying such views misrepresent the bloc’s balanced foreign policy.
He said that the consensus from the Asean Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Langkawi was to continue engaging both the US and China, along with other countries.
He reiterated that he had written to Trump to organise a US-Asean Summit.
“If tomorrow I receive a letter from president Trump that says yes, we’ll have a summit in June or in the next few months. We don’t have a problem,” he said.
This non-rejection, he said, is because Asean places the welfare of its people and the region’s economic interests at the heart of its external relations.
“So if it means working with the Chinese, yes, will do. Or the US, yes, we have to,” he said.
Anwar also announced that Timor-Leste is set to become a full Asean member by October.
“The decision was to agree that they would become an Asean member by the next session, but subject to one or two actions or reforms to be taken, particularly to fulfil one or two economic pillars,” he said, adding that the bloc will do “whatever is necessary” to make it happen.
Timor-Leste first applied for Asean membership in 2011. A roadmap for its accession was approved in May 2023. - FMT

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