ASEAN leaders forging singular stand on US tariff hikes
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last night to attend the 46th ASEAN Summit, where regional leaders are expected to draw up a collective response to the Trump administration’s sweeping tariff increases.
Before departing from Villamor Air Base, the chief executive revealed that informal consultations among ASEAN leaders are already in motion, signaling their intention to address the United States’ draconian trade policy shift as a bloc despite different tariff rates imposed on each member.
“I will add to that list of issues in the discussions with the Chair of ASEAN, Malaysia, specifically PM Anwar on the proper response of ASEAN as a group towards the new tariff schedule being imposed by the United States,” Mr. Marcos said.
While ASEAN remains a diverse group with varying trade dependencies, the Philippine leader stressed the need to build a regional consensus on addressing the changing economic landscape.
To recall, Philippine officials met with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer early this month to tackle “mutually beneficial ways to strengthen the bilateral relations” amid the 17 percent tariff rate imposed by Washington on Manila.
The unexpected trade angle adds new urgency to the high-level meetings, which were initially framed around the summit’s core theme of “inclusivity and sustainability.”
Aside from working out emerging trade issues, Mr. Marcos said his administration would continue championing ASEAN’s central role in addressing regional challenges, including tensions in the South China Sea, the Myanmar crisis, and the governance of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
“At this Summit, I will join fellow ASEAN Leaders in reaffirming our commitment to ASEAN Centrality as we navigate pressing regional and global challenges, including developments in the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar, threats to regional peace and maritime security, as well as the far-reaching impacts of climate change, economic volatility, and digital disruption,” the President said.
“I will also highlight the Philippines’ commitment to the development of a common regional framework for ethical and responsible Artificial Intelligence aligned with ASEAN values,” he added.
Mr. Marcos will likewise attend the Plenary and Retreat sessions of the summit, meet with ASEAN parliamentarians, youth, and business leaders, and witness the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045, the Department of Foreign Affairs disclosed.
Also in his packed schedule is presiding over the 16th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit and joining the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council and ASEAN-GCC-China Summits.
Possible additions to Mr. Marcos’ itinerary are bilateral meetings with leaders of Laos, Kuwait, and Vietnam.
While the President is away, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin was tasked to head the government’s caretaker committee, alongside Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Marcos joins ASEAN leaders in Malaysia summit to discuss US tariffs”
