ASEAN seeks dialogue, not retaliation, on US tariff policy
(VOVWORLD) - ASEAN is urging dialogue with the United States over its proposed trade tariffs and has ruled out any retaliatory measures, the bloc’s economic ministers said Thursday.
 The ASEAN 2025 logo in Langkawi, Malaysia. (Photo: VOV-Bangkok) |
In an official statement, ASEAN called for a “frank and constructive dialogue” with Washington to resolve trade-related issues, emphasizing cooperation over confrontation. The ministers underscored the importance of the long-standing ASEAN-US partnership, which they said continues to contribute to peace, stability, and economic development in the region.
ASEAN is currently the fifth-largest trading partner of the United States, while the US is ASEAN’s largest source of foreign direct investment and its second-largest trading partner overall. The bloc will closely cooperate with the US through existing frameworks and mechanisms to find mutually beneficial solutions and preserve the strength of the regional trade relationship.