Asean opts for constructive engagement over US tariffs

PETALING JAYA: Asean has decided not to retaliate against the United States' announcement of reciprocal tariffs, choosing instead to engage in constructive and forward-looking discussions to tackle emerging challenges.

This decision follows a special Asean Economic Ministers meeting with Timor-Leste and the Asean Secretary-General on Thursday (April 10).

The meeting acknowledged the warning from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) director-general regarding the significant risks posed by trade tensions between the US and China, which could potentially reduce global real GDP by nearly 7% in the long term.

"In reaffirming Asean’s commitment to open and inclusive economic cooperation, the Ministers underscored the region’s support for a predictable, transparent, non-discriminatory, free, fair, inclusive, sustainable, and rules-based multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core," the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry stated.

Asean and Timor-Leste unanimously rejected the US's basis for calculating Reciprocal Tariffs, which range from 10% to 49%, emphasising the profound impact these tariffs could have on Asean's economic growth and regional integration efforts.

"These tariffs will be regressive to Asean’s regional economic integration efforts built on a rules-based system, since its establishment in 1967,” the ministry added.

They also agreed that US President Donald Trump’s 90-day pause on Reciprocal Tariffs, while applying a baseline tariff of 10%, provides an opportunity to find a pragmatic and mutually beneficial solution for Asean.

The outcomes of this meeting will be presented at the Special Asean Leaders’ Meeting to address and mitigate potential disruptions to regional trade, supply chain networks, and cross-border investments.

The Malaysian government will continue to engage with the US to find an amicable and fair solution to the reciprocal tariff issue.

Additionally, the meeting agreed to establish the Asean Geoeconomics Task Force to discuss and formulate a coherent regional policy response to emerging economic and geopolitical challenges by identifying key risks and opportunities.

This initiative aims to strengthen the region’s strategic positioning, resilience, and relevance in an increasingly complex global landscape, the ministry said.