Trump's influence in Asia( Malaysian)

The 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit is underway in Kuala Lumpur, and despite the absence of the American delegation, the proposed tariffs by President Donald Trump are dominating the conversations. The Southeast Asian leaders are emphasizing the importance of strengthening regional trade ties as they attempt to navigate the economic implications of these tariffs.

The region, which includes countries like Laos to Indonesia, had been anticipating growth of over 5% annually and aiming to become the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030.

With the US being their largest export market, the potential impact of these tariffs is causing concern among Asean economic officials. This situation is also affecting Europe and Japan, with Trump imposing and then delaying 50% tariffs on the European Union. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is exploring options like offering to repair US warships to potentially negotiate a deal ahead of the Group of Seven (G7) summit.

French President Emmanuel Macron is in Vietnam, pledging closer defense and energy ties, which can be seen as an effort to solidify relationships in the region amidst the uncertainty caused by Trump's trade policies. The Asean negotiators are striving to reach an agreement to prevent the implementation of the proposed tariff hikes, which range from 10% to 49%. In response to these challenges, there has been an increase in intra-regional diplomacy and efforts to boost trade within the bloc.
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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been particularly vocal, using his opening speech to criticize Trump's tariffs for causing strain on the global trading system. The summit presents an opportunity for these leaders to unite and explore alternative strategies to mitigate the potential negative effects of the US trade actions on their economies. The evolving trade landscape is reshaping international alliances, with countries looking to diversify their partnerships and strengthen existing ones in the face of American protectionism.