ASEAN must deepen integration and stay united to tackle tariffs: Malaysia

Malaysian Foreign Minister says that the US-China trade war is dramatically disrupting production and trade patterns worldwide and global economic slowdown is likely to happen

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Southeast Asian nations must accelerate regional economic integration, diversify their markets and stay united to tackle the fallout from global trade disruptions resulting from sweeping US tariff hikes, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said on Sunday.

Mohamad, opening a meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, (ASEAN) also reiterated the bloc’s call to warring parties in Myanmar to cease hostilities.

“ASEAN nations are among those most heavily affected by the US-imposed tariffs. The US-China trade war is dramatically disrupting production and trade patterns worldwide. A global economic slowdown is likely to happen,” Mohamad said.

“We must seize this moment to deepen regional economic integration, so that we can better shield our region from external shocks.”

ASEAN countries, many of which rely on exports to the US, are reeling from tariffs imposed by the Trump administration ranging from IO8 to 498. Six of the association's IO member nations were among the worst-hit with tarrifs ranging from 398 to 498.

ASEAN unsuccessfully sought an initial meeting with the US as a bloc. When US President Donald Trump last month announced a 90-day pause on the tariffs, countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam swiftly began trade negotiations with Washington.