In a world increasingly driven by geopolitical tension and tariff wars, ASEAN is preparing to speak as one voice. The regional bloc will soon travel to Washington for a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, carrying a unified message: dialogue over division.
Malaysia, as ASEAN chair, has requested the inclusion of tariff discussions in the summit agenda. Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz confirmed that leaders are waiting for the U.S. to set a date.
“Retaliatory tariffs are not the answer. ASEAN wants engagement, not escalation,” Zafrul said on CNBC.
The bloc’s approach is grounded in multilateral, rules-based trade, and Malaysia is already in active talks through its embassy and economic channels in Washington.
ASEAN’s latest economic ministers’ meeting highlighted readiness to work with the U.S. under frameworks like TIFA and the E3 Work Plan, focusing on digital integration, investment facilitation, and supply chain resilience.
This summit could signal a renewed ASEAN-U.S. economic alignment — not just for recovery, but for a more connected and forward-looking future.
