Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, to discuss US President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policy and its potential impacts on ASEAN member states.
On his social media platforms, Anwar posted pictures of him welcoming Prabowo. Neither leader disclosed details of the meeting.
The Kuala Lumpur meeting came the day after Prabowo held a virtual discussion with four ASEAN leaders, to exchange views on the potential impacts of the US tariffs.
The participants included Anwar, Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Anwar has promised that Malaysia will lead efforts to coordinate a regional response to the US tariffs. “Malaysia, as ASEAN chair, will lead efforts to present a united regional front, maintain open and resilient supply chains and ensure ASEAN’s collective voice is heard clearly and firmly on the international stage,” he said during a video address posted on April 6.
On his Facebook page, Anwar also noted that he had spoken with Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, to discuss joint ASEAN action in response to the trade tariffs imposed by the US.
“We agreed to prioritise negotiations and avoid disputes, aiming to achieve a fair resolution in the interests of all ASEAN member states. We also emphasised the importance of strengthening regional cooperation and diversifying supply chains, to increase ASEAN’s economic resilience,” Anwar wrote.
Under the new US tariff policy, Indonesian exports to the US are now subject to a 32% tariff. Malaysia and Brunei face 24%, the Philippines 17%, Singapore 10%, Cambodia 49%, Laos 48%, Vietnam 46%, Myanmar 44% and Thailand 36%.
He added that they also discussed the situation in Myanmar and agreed that ASEAN should consult with all stakeholders to achieve an inclusive and peaceful solution.
