ASEAN leaders to express concern over US tariffs

Southeast Asian leaders will voice significant concerns regarding the US tariff increases imposed by President Donald Trump during their upcoming summit, highlighting the challenges these unilateral actions present to regional economic growth and stability.

Trump cast international markets into turmoil in April when he announced wide-ranging tariffs on Washington's trading partners, before the US president agreed to pause them for most countries for 90 days.

The US tariff policies have disrupted global markets and international trade, prompting ASEAN leaders to seek strategies for mitigating the impact on their trade-dependent economies.

A draft statement indicates that ASEAN leaders will express their 'deep concern... over the imposition of unilateral tariff measures', noting that these measures create 'complex and multidimensional challenges to ASEAN's economic growth, stability, and integration'.

Bilateral talks between ASEAN member states and Washington are in progress, but the bloc must still present a united front, Malaysia -- which holds the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN -- said before the summit.

The leaders are also set to reaffirm ASEAN's unified dedication to the principles of the global free trading system.

Following their own meeting, ASEAN leaders will participate in a summit with China and Middle Eastern oil producers.