Southeast Asian bloc seeks talks with Trump administration amid escalating US-China trade war

ISTANBUL

Southeast Asian nations on Thursday said they will not impose retaliatory tariffs on the US and will instead pursue talks with the Donald Trump administration.

“We express our common intention to engage in a frank and constructive dialogue with the US to address trade-related concerns,” read a joint statement by the economy ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), who met in Malaysia, the current chair of the 10-member bloc.

The statement emphasized that “open communication and collaboration will be crucial to ensuring a balanced and sustainable relationship.”

“In that spirit, ASEAN commits to not impose any retaliatory measures in response to the US tariffs,” the bloc said.

Trump announced a 90-day reprieve to all nations except China from a Wednesday deadline in which they were expected to be hit with tariffs above his 10% baseline.

The US president said he was raising the tariff rate on China to 125%. Beijing has imposed an 84% additional tariff on all imports from the US.

ASEAN’s decision came amid China’s push for a joint stance with the bloc against the US tariffs.

Earlier Thursday, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao held a virtual meeting with Malaysia’s Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

According to Chinese state media, the two officials held “in-depth and candid exchanges” on enhancing China-Malaysia and China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation, and on “jointly responding” to the tariffs imposed by the US.

Wang said China was ready to “strengthen communication and coordination” with trading partners, including ASEAN, to resolve concerns through dialogue and consultation based on mutual respect, in a joint effort to safeguard the multilateral trading system.

China is ASEAN’s largest trading partner.