Asean is in a race to find a unified position on punishing tariffs proposed by US President Donald Trump, as some members of the bloc look to carve out their own deals with an American administration marked by its unpredictability and outrage at trade surpluses.
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Trump sent the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in a tailspin last week after he announced plans to impose a 25 per cent tariff on exports of cars, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors to the US, potentially crimping demand for shipments from the region.
Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam rank the US as among their top trade partners and maintain a large trade surplus with America – another key pain point for Trump.
In response, Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan told parliament last Thursday that Asean planned to hold a summit with the US to allow the bloc’s members to present their views on Trump’s planned tariffs.
He did not give a date – or venue – for the proposed meeting.
The US president’s tendency to make sudden announcements and go against established international trade and diplomatic practices, however, leaves the bloc scratching its head over how it should approach the negotiations.