ASEAN has announced it will not respond with retaliatory measures to the recent wave of tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, instead calling for open and constructive engagement to resolve trade tensions.
In a joint statement issued following a meeting of ASEAN economic ministers in Kuala Lumpur, the 10-nation bloc reaffirmed its commitment to protecting regional economic interests while preserving strong and mutually beneficial relations with the United States.
“ASEAN commits to not imposing any retaliatory measures in response to the US tariffs,” the statement read. “Open communication and collaboration will be crucial to ensuring a balanced and sustainable relationship.”
The statement comes in the wake of sweeping US tariffs that triggered significant financial market turmoil, erasing trillions from global stock exchanges and raising concerns of a looming recession. Though President Trump has since announced a 90-day delay for many of the tariffs, he has maintained a 10% blanket duty on numerous imports and increased tariffs on Chinese goods to 125%.
ASEAN ministers warned that the tariffs threaten to disrupt global trade and investment flows, strain supply chains, and negatively impact businesses and consumers worldwide—including within the US itself. They also cautioned that economic progress in the region could be compromised, especially given that the US was ASEAN’s largest foreign direct investor and second-largest trading partner in 2024.
Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Zafrul Aziz echoed this sentiment earlier in the day, stating that while the temporary delay offers some relief, the ongoing unpredictability of US trade policy continues to cast a shadow over regional and global trade dynamics.
In their statement, ASEAN leaders expressed their intention to work collaboratively with Washington through the ASEAN-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, aiming to find “mutually acceptable solutions” to shared concerns. These include facilitating two-way trade and investment, strengthening strategic economic ties, and enhancing supply chain resilience through digital innovation and technological cooperation.
“ASEAN believes that an enhanced, robust, and forward-looking ASEAN-US economic cooperation framework will contribute to the prosperity of our people and the broader global economy,” the ministers said.
They added that such a framework would support deeper regional supply chain integration, spur innovation, and reinforce the bloc’s position as a reliable partner in a secure and stable global trade ecosystem.
