Despite facing some of the highest tariffs globally, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has assured Southeast Asian nations of Washington’s commitment to the region. He stated that countries in the region may even receive “better” trade deals than the rest of the world.
During his first official visit to Asia, Rubio met with foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Malaysia. He expressed that the US has “no intention of abandoning” the region.
This visit came after US President Donald Trump renewed his threat of imposing severe tariffs on many Southeast Asian countries if they do not strike deals by August 1.
However, the Southeast Asian nations have been significantly affected by Trump’s trade war. Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Indonesia received letters warning of tariffs ranging from 20-40%.
Rubio stated that when it’s all said and done, many Southeast Asian countries are going to have better tariff rates compared to countries in other parts of the world.
Before Rubio’s arrival in Malaysia, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim condemned the tariffs, calling them the “new weather of our time.”
The looming tariffs cast a shadow over the meeting, even as Rubio emphasized the importance of Southeast Asia to Washington.
Stephen Olson, a visiting senior fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said that Asean ministers will give a polite and respectful reception to Rubio but are unlikely to be fundamentally persuaded by anything he says.
China’s growing influence could benefit from Washington’s unpredictable economic policies and questions about its commitment to the region.
Meanwhile, China and Asean, China’s largest trading partner, completed negotiations to refine their free trade area to include additional industries.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stated that Japan needs to become more self-sufficient and less dependent on the US in areas such as security, energy, and food.
Vietnam has reached a trade deal with the US, with many goods facing a tariff of 20%, while a 40% levy remains for transshipments.
These tariffs could severely impact economic growth in the Southeast Asian nations.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jul/11/marco-rubio-asia-visit-trump-tariffs
