KUALA LUMPUR: The slew of tariffs announced by the United States will not backfire, nor will it strain ties between Asean and the United States, says Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
He said this is because tariffs are being applied on a global scale and not focused on a specific region or country.
Rubio also said he is confident that some countries will be able to get lower tariff rates.
“There is a possibility that before Aug 1, we will reach an arrangement with certain countries that changes those numbers in a positive way.
“That takes time to work on so it can happen,” said Rubio when met at the sidelines of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings.
Rubio pointed out that for years, the United States had built up an enormous trade deficit with many countries and regions like Europe, Canada and Mexico.
“The trade deficit that the United States is running with other countries is just unsustainable. We have to address this and that’s what the President is doing.”
Rubio reiterated that the tariffs are to take effect on Aug 1 as “markets need certainty”.
On Monday, the United States announced it will impose a higher 25% tariff on all Malaysian products exported to the United States effective Aug 1.
The figure is 1% point higher than the tariff previously announced in April.
On another matter, Rubio said President Donald Trump is set to visit China and both sides are working to conclude a mutually agreeable date.
He said the official invitation was extended by Chinese President Xi Jinping in an hour-long meeting that took place between him and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi yesterday.
“It is a visit he (Trump) wants to undertake. So, we are working on finding a right time for that.
“I’m sure it will happen, because both presidents want it to happen,” he said.
This is the first in-person session between the two and speculation is rife that it could be a possible prelude to a presidential summit between Xi and Trump.
Rubio described his meeting with Wang as positive, saying that the United States and China need to have regular engagements and communications.
He also said the United States is interested in tackling scams in Asean as they are harming not just Americans but also residents in the region.
“We hope to have some deliverables on that and for a positive and productive (Asean) meeting in October,” he said.
