KUALA LUMPUR: The United States (US) is holding active discussions with several countries at the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) to push for further progress on US reciprocal tariffs.
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said the door remains open to adjusting tariffs, with the US actively engaging with multiple countries on trade rebalancing.
“But the markets demand certainty, so we need to let everyone know what the baseline (tariff) is starting August 1. But these talks continue.
“There will be talks next week with Japan. There are ongoing talks with virtually every country represented here. So these are important partners,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the ASEAN meetings here on Thursday.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs ranging from 25 to 40 per cent on 14 countries.
He issued an executive order that extended the date on which reciprocal tariffs would take effect to August 1.
Rubio said every country in the world is going to get a letter on Trump’s rebalancing of trade.
“The president has been clear. He felt that the status of global trade was unfair to American workers and the American economy, and this is an effort to rebalance that on a global scale.
“I would say that when all is said and done, many of the countries in Southeast Asia are going to have tariff rates that are actually better than countries in other parts of the world, and that could be a benefit,” he added.
Meanwhile, Rubio said the US remains committed to deepening strategic and economic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in Southeast Asia.
He also described the recent trilateral meeting with Japan and the Philippines as “excellent”, reaffirming strong cooperation on maritime security, territorial integrity and economic corridor development.
“We work very closely with Japan and the Philippines and continue to build upon that partnership.
“We also look forward to hosting the president of the Philippines in Washington in a few days,” he added.
Highlighting the region’s importance, Rubio said over 6,000 American companies have invested in Southeast Asia.
He called it “the youngest part of the world demographically” with enormous growth potential.
“The history of the 21st century will be written in the Indo-Pacific, especially Southeast Asia.
“We have spent decades building these relationships and we’re not walking away – in fact, we’re looking to expand them,” he said. – By Zufazlin Baharuddin & Nurunnasihah Ahmad Rashid/BERNAMA
