Bangkok, April 18 — On his two-day visit to Thailand, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made it clear: Asean is standing strong together, rejecting the recent wave of unilateral tariffs from the United States. His message? Fair trade should be built on cooperation — not imposed through power plays.
Speaking with warmth and conviction at a press conference in Bangkok, Anwar shared how the discussions with his Thai counterpart, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, focused on the very real concern that these sudden tariffs — introduced under President Donald Trump’s renewed tariff policy — are disrupting the balance of global trade.
“These kinds of one-sided actions just don’t align with the way we believe trade should work,” Anwar said. “Asean believes in fairness, in open dialogue, and in working together — that’s why we stand for multilateralism.”
Behind his words lies a broader unity. Trade and Finance Ministers from across Asean have been actively preparing for the ongoing negotiations triggered by the US tariffs. The goal is clear: protect the spirit of free trade and ensure that smaller nations aren’t bullied into submission.
Anwar expressed optimism, noting that other key partners — like Japan and New Zealand — are on the same page. “I was heartened to see leaders like Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and New Zealand’s Christopher Luxon echoing our stance. Together, we want to resolve this through meaningful dialogue — not retaliation.”
Indeed, Asean and Malaysia have chosen not to respond with their own tariffs. Instead, they’re pushing for conversations grounded in fairness, especially since the impact on the region is stark: Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar are facing tariff rates as high as 49%, while countries like Malaysia and Brunei are hit with 24% duties.
Right now, those tariffs are on a 90-day pause — except for those affecting China. But as Anwar reminded the world today, this isn’t just about economics; it’s about values. “This is about protecting the principles we believe in and standing together as a region.”
And in a world increasingly divided by trade wars and unilateral decisions, Asean’s message from Bangkok is simple, human, and powerful: Let’s build bridges, not barriers.
