Even as they face among the most punitive tariffs globally, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has sought to reassure south-east Asian countries of Washington\u2019s commitment to the region, saying they may get \u201cbetter\u201d trade deals than the rest of the world.<\/p>\n
In his first official visit to Asia, Rubio met the foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Malaysia<\/a> on Thursday, telling his counterparts that the US had \u201cno intention of abandoning\u201d the region.<\/p>\n His visit came days after Donald Trump renewed his threat to impose severe tariffson many south-east Asian countries if they did not strike deals by 1 August.<\/p>\n The region, which includes countries that rely on exports and manufacturing, has been among the worst hit by Trump\u2019s trade war.<\/p>\n Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines and Indonesia were sent letters this week<\/a> warning they would face tariffs ranging from 20-40% \u2013 levies that Rubio said were being discussed with Asean countries.<\/p>\n \u201cI would say that when all is said and done, many of the countries in south-east Asia are going to have tariff rates that are actually better than countries in other parts of the world,\u201d Rubio said.<\/p>\n Marco Rubio meets with Malaysia\u2019s prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim. Photograph: Mandel Ngan\/Reuters<\/p>\n Before Rubio\u2019s arrival in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, condemned the tariffs, saying the levies were not a \u201cpassing storm\u201d but instead \u201cthe new weather of our time\u201d.<\/p>\n Tools once used to generate growth were now being \u201cwielded to pressure, isolate and contain\u201d, Anwar said.<\/p>\n The looming tariffs have cast a shadow over Rubio\u2019s trip, even as he sought to underline the importance of south-east Asia to the US.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is our view, our strong view, and the reality that this century and the next, the story of the next 50 years, will largely be written here in this region, in this part of the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n In a joint communique on Friday, Asean foreign ministers condemned unilateral tariffs as \u201ccounterproductive and risk exacerbating global economic fragmentation\u201d, though they did not mention the US directly. <\/strong><\/p>\n Stephen Olson, a visiting senior fellow at ISEAS \u2013 Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said Rubio had the unenviable position of trying to reassure south-east Asian partners that US continued to be committed to the region and to free and open trade relations when all the evidence pointed to the opposite.<\/p>\n \u201cAsean ministers will give him a polite and respectful reception but are unlikely to be fundamentally persuaded by anything he says,\u201d added Olson.<\/p>\n Rubio had his first in-person talks with the Chinese foreign minister, <\/strong>Wang Yi, at the gathering on Friday, which he described as \u201cpositive and constructive\u201d, though he stressed their meeting was not a negotiation. <\/strong><\/p>\n Questions over Washington\u2019s commitment to the region coupled with Trump\u2019s unpredictable economic polices could be a boon for China.<\/p>\n At the same gathering, China and Asean, which is China\u2019s largest trading partner, completed negotiations to further refine their free trade area to include additional industries.<\/p>\n Representatives attending the Asean foreign ministers meeting. Photograph: Xinhua\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n In meetings with Asean countries, Wang sought to draw a contrast between Washington and Beijing \u2013 presenting China as a reliable partner interested in mutual development.<\/p>\n During a meeting with Cambodia\u2019s deputy prime minister, Prak Sokhonn, he said the US levies were \u201can attempt to deprive all parties of their legitimate right to development\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the face of turbulent global situation, China is willing to be Cambodia\u2019s trustworthy and reliable friend and partner,\u201d Wang added.<\/p>\n Wang told his Thai counterpart, Maris Sangiampongsa, the US was \u201cabusing tariffs, wrecking the free trade system and disrupting the stability of the global supply chain\u201d, according the Chinese foreign ministry.<\/p>\n In another sign of the economic recalibration, the Japanese prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, told a television news programme that Japan needed to wean itself from US dependence in key areas.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they think Japan ought to follow what America says as we depend heavily on them, then we need to work to become more self-sufficient in security, energy and food, and less dependent on America,\u201d he said.<\/strong><\/p>\n Vietnam is the only Asian country, and the second globally, to reach a trade deal with the US. Under the agreement many goods will face a tariff of 20% but a 40% levy will remain for so-called transshipments<\/a> \u2013 a provision that is aimed at Chinese companies accused of passing their products through Vietnam to avoid tariffs.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s agreement with Vietnam is seen by analysts as a sign he will use tariff negotiations to try to pressure countries to cut China from their supply chains.<\/a><\/p>\n South-east Asian countries have rushed to offer concessions to Trump to avert the tariffs, which could devastate economic growth.<\/p>\n Levies loom over eight out of 10 Asean member states, including a tariff of 20% on the Philippines, 25% on Malaysia and Brunei, 32% on Indonesia<\/a>, and 36% on Cambodia and Thailand. Laos and Myanmar, a country gripped by civil war, continue to face among the most severe tariffs globally, with a 40% levy.<\/p>\n