Malaysia to seek united ASEAN response to U.S. reciprocal tariffs

KUALA LUMPUR/JAKARTA/WASHINGTON -- Malaysia will seek this week to forge a united ASEAN response to the sweeping reciprocal tariffs announced by the U.S. last week, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said after discussing the matter with several of his counterparts in the regional bloc.

Anwar, who is the current ASEAN chair, said in a video address late on Sunday night that Southeast Asian countries are among those hardest hit by the new U.S. measures. Cambodia was slapped with 49% tariffs and Vietnam assessed a 46% duty. He asserted that the sweeping tariffs mark only "the beginning of greater challenges" in the external economic environment.