Anwar writes to Trump to request US-Asean meeting

Summary

• PM Anwar Ibrahim has written to US President Donald Trump, seeking support for a US-Asean meeting to reinforce regional centrality and shared responsibility.

• Despite the recent US tariff hike on Southeast Asian imports, Asean agrees not to retaliate, opting instead for constructive dialogue.

• Anwar confirms there is a tacit consensus among Asean leaders to maintain regional unity while continuing bilateral talks with the US.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has written to US President Donald Trump, seeking his support to organise a meeting between Asean and the United States.

Speaking during his opening address at the 46th Asean Summit today, Anwar said the move was in line with discussions during the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Langkawi earlier this year.

“I have taken the liberty of writing to President Trump to seek his understanding and support in organising a US-Asean meeting, which reflects our serious commitment to the principle of centrality,” he said.

“This speaks not only to our aspirations but also to our responsibilities. It is anchored in the conviction that Asean’s future must be built upon the twin pillars of equitable, sustainable growth and lasting resilience,” he added.

He also said that while member states have been holding bilateral discussions with the US regarding the latter’s imposition of tariffs, there is a unanimous tacit agreement among Asean leaders to preserve a regional consensus.

On April 3, Trump announced a wave of “reciprocal tariffs” targeting Southeast Asian imports, with Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam most affected. Malaysia was slapped with a 24 percent tariff, while Singapore received the lowest rate at 10 percent.

Starting April 9, the US imposed higher tariffs at “half” the purported amount that was imposed by other countries on US exports.

However, Asean’s economic ministers have since agreed against imposing retaliatory measures, preferring instead to engage in “frank and constructive” dialogue with the US to resolve trade-related matters.

Prior to Trump’s announcement, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had reportedly met to set a date for the Asean-US Special Summit.

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