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6d ago

Rubio Visits Malaysia to Rally ASEAN Allies as U.S. Tariffs Hit

At the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in Kuala Lumpur, the secretary of state aims to shore up America’s Indo-Pacific partnerships as new levies on Southeast Asian exports loom.

From left to right, East Timor Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Lao Minister of Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono, Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, Brunei's Minister of Foreign Affairs Erywan Yusof, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's Foreign Affairs Minister Mohamad Hasan, Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro, Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Thailand's Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, Vietnam's Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative Kyaw Nyun Oo and ASEAN's Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn pose for the group photo during the opening ceremony of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' meeting and related meetings at the Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
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The ASEAN logo is displayed outside the venue of the ASEAN Finance Ministers' and Central Bank Governors' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia April 8, 2025. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/File Photo
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Overview

  • Rubio is attending the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in Kuala Lumpur from July 8 to 12 — his first trip to the Indo-Pacific since becoming secretary of state.
  • He will press Southeast Asian partners on U.S. commitment to a free, open and secure region as strategic competition with China intensifies.
  • The Trump administration’s April tariff offensive has been revived with 25–40% levies on six ASEAN countries set to snap back on August 1 without deals.
  • Vietnam has secured a tariff reduction to 20%, while Indonesia, Malaysia and other exporters seek further concessions.
  • Rubio’s agenda coincides with visits from China’s Wang Yi and Russia’s Sergei Lavrov at multiple post-ministerial forums.