Malaysia calls for ASEAN agreement on US tariff negotiations

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that ASEAN countries must come together to reach an agreement on the tariffs imposed by the U.S. to provide a strong foundation for future negotiations.

In a meeting on Monday, he urged members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) not to underestimate the issue, particularly amid the current global economic and political uncertainties.

Anwar described the U.S. method for determining the tariffs as flawed and based on weak grounds.

However, he emphasixed that Malaysia has opted for a moderate approach, as there remains room for discussions and the need to address certain exceptions in detail.

Anwar highlighted the strength of ASEAN as a bloc with a population of 640 million and an economy among the world’s top, noting the region’s growth and stability.

He stressed the importance of ASEAN presenting a unified stance to strengthen the foundation for the upcoming talks, and revealed that he had already discussed the issue with his ASEAN counterparts.

The new US tariffs, announced by President Trump on April 2, have significantly impacted several ASEAN countries, with Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam being the hardest hit.