MINISTER of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, has confirmed that all ASEAN leaders are prepared to travel to Washington to negotiate collectively with the United States on emerging trade tensions, particularly concerning tariffs.
Speaking to CNBC this morning, Tengku Zafrul revealed that Malaysia, as the current chair of ASEAN, has formally requested a special US-ASEAN summit via its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“All ASEAN leaders have agreed to go to the US to meet up with President Donald Trump during the summit,” he stated. “And I was made to understand from the ASEAN secretariat, now we are waiting for the US to revert with the time.”
The proposed summit would provide an opportunity for ASEAN to present a united front on trade issues, amid growing concern in the region over potential tariff hikes. However, Tengku Zafrul stressed that the 10-member bloc was committed to engagement over escalation.
“ASEAN does not believe in any retaliatory tariff actions,” he said, underlining that the bloc was determined to continue dialogue with Washington rather than responding with protectionist measures.
For Malaysia specifically, Tengku Zafrul said the government was taking a dual-track approach, maintaining both bilateral and multilateral channels of communication with the United States.
“We also agree that the rule-based multilateral trading system is the way to go for Malaysia. We have our officers in Washington, our ministry, as well as our embassy, engaging (with the US),” he explained.
He added that Malaysia’s Foreign Minister has also been actively engaged with the US Secretary of State. Tengku Zafrul noted that Malaysia’s applied effective tariff rate to the United States currently stands at around 5.6 per cent.
Importantly, he welcomed a recent move by the United States to pause reciprocal tariffs, calling it a positive step towards meaningful dialogue.
“Putrajaya welcomed the reprieve from the pause in reciprocal tariffs by the US as this gives an opportunity to engage and negotiate,” he said.
The summit, if confirmed, would mark a significant diplomatic push by ASEAN to address trade concerns in a coordinated and constructive manner—underscoring the region's growing confidence in operating as a cohesive economic bloc on the global stage. – April 11, 2025
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