Japan, Malaysia speed up tariff talks with US
Japanese Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization Ryosei Akazawa has been appointed as trade negotiator with the U.S. on tariff issues, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the top government spokesman, said on Tuesday.
President Donald Trump holds up a chart on tariffs while speaking during a trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025 in Washington, DC. Photo courtesy of Forbes.
The appointment came hours after Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed in their phone talks on April 7 to continue bilateral tariff negotiations through their ministers.
Ishiba is considering another visit to the U.S. for discussions with U.S. President Trump "at the most appropriate timing", with progress in ministerial-level talks being a key consideration, Hayashi said.
Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was assigned to lead trade talks with Japan, said in a statement on social media X the same day that he intended to negotiate with his Japanese counterpart not only on tariffs but also exchange rates.
Hayashi said that Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato will be in charge of negotiations with the US Treasury Secretary regarding the exchange rate issue.
Also on Tuesday, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that the country will send officials to the U.S. to initiate discussions on the 24% tariffs recently imposed on goods imported from the Southeast Asian country.
Speaking at an investment conference, Anwar said that Malaysia’s trade with the U.S. has long been a model of mutual gain, thus the new tariffs might have a negative impact on both economies.
The PM said that Malaysia will act through quiet dialogue on a constructive basis, and affirmed that it will coordinate with ASEAN countries - currently chaired by Malaysia - to organize a delegation to the U.S. for negotiations.
- Read More
Malaysia, Indonesia not retaliate against US's reciprocal tariffs
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has spoken out against the U.S.’s reciprocal tariffs, but affirmed that the country will not introduce retaliatory tariffs and that the sixth largest economy in ASEAN will not fall into recession for now.
Southeast Asia - Tue, April 8, 2025 | 10:12 pm GMT+7
Vietnamese garment, textile firms brace for US tariff’s impacts
Industry leaders are crafting diversification strategies and calling for calm as Vietnam’s textile and footwear exports to the U.S. potentially face new tariffs.
Southeast Asia - Tue, April 8, 2025 | 10:05 pm GMT+7
Indonesia to intervene aggressively to protect local currency after US’s new tariff
Bank Indonesia (BI) announced on Monday that it will intervene aggressively in the domestic foreign exchange market to protect the local currency, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 32% reciprocal tariff on goods imported from the Southeast Asian nation.
Southeast Asia - Tue, April 8, 2025 | 9:54 pm GMT+7
Vietnam’s only listed jewelry maker PNJ expects 7.3% dip in 2025 net profit
Phu Nhuan Jewelry JSC (HoSE: PNJ), the only listed jewelry company in Vietnam, targets nearly VND1.96 trillion ($75.34 million) in net profit this year, down 7.3% year-on-year.
Companies - Tue, April 8, 2025 | 6:54 pm GMT+7
Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index loses nearly 200 points since Trump’s tariff announcement
The VN-Index, which represents the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), has declined for three consecutive sessions by a total of 182.63 points, following U.S. President Trump’s announcement on 46% reciprocal tariffs on imports from Vietnam.
Finance - Tue, April 8, 2025 | 6:05 pm GMT+7
Central Retail’s Vietnam revenue dips 0.5% to $1.4 bln in 2024
Thai giant Central Retail posted revenues of nearly THB49.01 billion ($1.4 billion) in Vietnam in 2024, down 0.5% year-on-year.
Companies - Tue, April 8, 2025 | 4:40 pm GMT+7
Vietnamese building materials, garment, seafood firms to be hardest hit by US new tariffs: broker
Many building materials, garment, and seafood firms in Vietnam, along with industrial parks, are expected to suffer a “very negative impact” from the newly-announced U.S. reciprocal tariffs, according to Hanoi-based Vietcombank Securities.
Economy - Tue, April 8, 2025 | 4:33 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's responses to new US tariffs 'quick and reasoned': AmCham
AmCham Vietnam said it is encouraged by the "quick and reasoned responses" of the Vietnamese government in reaction to the new U.S. tariffs.
Economy - Tue, April 8, 2025 | 3:43 pm GMT+7
Japanese investors eye biomass feedstock, wastewater treatment projects in southern Vietnam
Long An province, a manufacturing center in southern Vietnam, has recently signed cooperation documents with major Japanese groups in biomass material supply and wastewater treatment.
Industries - Tue, April 8, 2025 | 11:37 am GMT+7
Vietnam seeks 45-day delay in US tariff imposition: Prime Minister
Vietnam will ask the U.S. to delay imposing its new tariffs on imports from Vietnam for at least 45 days, so that there is time for negotiations, preparations, and a smooth transition, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Economy - Tue, April 8, 2025 | 11:06 am GMT+7
Vietnam bourse plunge offers opportunity for long-term investors: expert
Vietnam's ongoing market pullback presents a buying opportunity for long-term investors, as many stocks have been discounted to attractive valuations, said Nguyen The Minh, head of research & development for retail clients at Yuanta Securities Vietnam.
Economy - Tue, April 8, 2025 | 9:00 am GMT+7
President Trump's tarriffs to have little impact on Vietnam's fruit & vegetable sector: association
Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable trade deficit with the U.S. means this sector is likely to be less affected by President Donald Trump's new tariffs, said Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association.
Economy - Tue, April 8, 2025 | 8:37 am GMT+7
HCMC office market net absorption to drop 50% in 2025: Knight Frank
Total net absorption in Ho Chi Minh City's office market might decrease by half to around 50,000 sqm in 2025, write Knight Frank Vietnam analysts in their latest market report for Q1.
Consulting - Tue, April 8, 2025 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Banks in Vietnam pump $23.8 bln into national economy in Q1
The Vietnamese banking system injected nearly VND614 trillion ($23.8 billion) into the economy in the first quarter of the year, according to State Bank of Vietnam Governor Nguyen Thi Hong.
Banking - Mon, April 7, 2025 | 10:34 pm GMT+7
Tourism an economic shield against US new tariffs: Indonesian Minister
Tourism industry can serve as an economic defence tool helping Indonesia mitigate negative impacts caused by U.S. reciprocal tariffs, said Indonesian Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana.
Southeast Asia - Mon, April 7, 2025 | 5:52 pm GMT+7
Indonesia copes with global instability, US tariff policy
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has formulated mitigation strategies in response to the import tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on Indonesia, according to the Presidential Communication Office (PCO).
Southeast Asia - Mon, April 7, 2025 | 5:44 pm GMT+7
