President Marcos Pushes for Unified Regional Response to Tariff Schedule
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has emphasized the need for a unified regional response to the new tariff schedule recently imposed by the United States. As he departed for Malaysia on Sunday, May 25, to attend the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, he highlighted ongoing informal talks with fellow ASEAN leaders, including Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, about how Southeast Asia can collectively address this issue despite its economic diversity.
“This is something that we have to discuss, and it’s something we have to respond to,” Marcos said. He added, “We must find a way to find consensus amongst the disparate situations that the different member states are operating under.”
According to sources familiar with the matter, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Deputy Assistant Secretary explained that ASEAN does not intend to retaliate but will pursue engagement through both bilateral and multilateral channels with the United States to address trade imbalances. “They (ASEAN leaders) are concerned, but the region will not do a retaliatory measure,” he noted on May 22.
President Marcos supports this non-retaliatory approach within the ASEAN framework, while continuing direct discussions with Washington on trade matters.
ASEAN Summit Highlights Inclusivity and Sustainability
The summit, held in Kuala Lumpur under Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship, carries the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability.” President Marcos expressed the Philippines’ full support for Malaysia’s vision of a united, people-centered regional bloc.
Progress on South China Sea Code of Conduct
A key agenda for the President is advancing the long-delayed ASEAN-China Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea. He reiterated his commitment to promoting an open, inclusive, and rules-based international order. The President is expected to call on ASEAN and China to meet their goal of finalizing the COC by 2026.
This push comes amid ongoing tensions in the disputed waters, where the Philippines continues to assert its rights based on international laws, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral ruling.
Focusing on AI Ethics, Regional Peace, and Maritime Security
President Marcos also plans to reaffirm the Philippines’ dedication to developing a common regional framework for the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), aligned with ASEAN values. He stressed the importance of preparing ASEAN to face future challenges such as climate change, economic uncertainty, and digital disruption.
“Through these efforts, we aim to build a future-ready ASEAN that is not only competitive, but also people-centered and sustainable,” the President said.
High-Level Engagements and Key Documents
During the summit, Marcos will participate in nine leaders’ meetings and may hold bilateral talks with counterparts from Laos, Kuwait, and Vietnam. ASEAN leaders are expected to adopt or acknowledge 22 outcome documents, including the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN Vision 2045 and joint statements from the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and ASEAN-GCC-China summits.
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