BANGKOK, April 18 — In a strong show of unity and principle, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made it clear today: Asean stands together against unilateral trade tariffs, especially those recently imposed by the United States. Speaking at the end of his two-day visit to Thailand, Anwar emphasized that such one-sided decisions go against the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect that Asean holds dear.
During his time in Bangkok, Anwar had meaningful discussions with Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Their talks focused on the sudden US tariffs, introduced under former President Donald Trump’s Reciprocal Trade and Tariffs Policy. These tariffs have sent ripples through the region, hitting several Southeast Asian countries hard.
“We’ve formed a strong Asean consensus,” Anwar said. “We believe in free trade, dialogue, and multilateralism. We cannot support any action that’s made unilaterally, because it disrupts the balance and fairness that we’ve worked so hard to build together.”
His message wasn’t just a political statement—it reflected the shared concerns of people and businesses across the region who are already feeling the pinch of these tariffs. From Cambodian garment workers to Vietnamese exporters, the consequences are real and painful.
Anwar also shared his optimism about the growing alignment between Asean and key global partners like Japan and New Zealand. He noted that Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and New Zealand’s Christopher Luxon both echoed Asean’s call for cooperation over confrontation.
Importantly, Anwar made it clear that Asean and Malaysia won’t respond with retaliatory measures. “We believe in dialogue, not division,” he said.
The US tariffs, which took effect April 3, have placed significant pressure on Asean’s Indochina nations. Cambodia faces a staggering 49% in combined duties, while Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar are also heavily impacted. Even countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines are seeing substantial tariff increases.
Although a 90-day suspension is currently in place (except for tariffs on China), the uncertainty lingers—and so does the urgency for calm, respectful negotiation.
In times like these, Anwar’s voice carries a hopeful message: unity, fairness, and multilateralism still matter. And in Bangkok, Asean’s message was loud and clear—our region stands together.
