US President Donald Trump began his Asian tour with a flurry of trade announcements, unveiling several agreements within hours of landing in Malaysia on Sunday. The deals, involving four countries, mark Washington’s renewed economic push in Southeast Asia as Trump attends the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur.
Trump met regional leaders and held talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who confirmed that both nations would begin immediate discussions on reducing tariffs.
The U.S. president also expressed optimism about reaching a breakthrough with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of their expected meeting later this week in South Korea.
U.S. and Chinese negotiators, meeting on the sidelines of the summit, said they had developed a “successful framework” to ease ongoing trade tensions.
The talks aim to prevent further escalation after Washington threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese goods in response to Beijing’s restrictions on rare earth exports.
The White House announced six trade deals on Sunday, including new agreements with Malaysia and Thailand on critical minerals, frameworks for broader pacts with Cambodia and Thailand, and improved market access between the U.S. and Vietnam. Malaysia pledged not to restrict exports of rare earth elements to the U.S., although details remain limited.
Addressing ASEAN leaders, Trump vowed unwavering support for Southeast Asia, saying, “The United States is with you 100 percent and will remain a strong partner for generations.”
Trump also discussed tariff issues with Brazil’s Lula, while tensions with Canada persisted after Trump announced an additional 10% tariff hike on Canadian goods.
In other summit developments, East Timor officially joined ASEAN as its 11th member, ending a 14-year wait and marking a new milestone for the region’s newest and poorest nation.
