US tariffs in sharp focus at conference

US SECRETARY of State Marco Rubio met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi yesterday on the sidelines of Asean talks in Malaysia, where Washington’s tariffs are in sharp focus.

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Rubio and Wang's first face-to-face meeting since US President Donald Trump returned to office comes as Washington and Beijing are locked in disputes ranging from trade to Taiwan — and both powers vie for greater influence in the region.

Wang and Rubio are in Kuala Lumpur for a gathering of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which Japan, South Korea and Australia and other nations are also attending.

US officials said ahead of Rubio's first trip to the region as secretary of state that Washington was “prioritising” its commitment to East and Southeast Asia.