The proposal was discussed during the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Special Meeting on Thursday (April 10), in which the Indonesian delegation was led by Trade Minister Budi Santoso alongside representatives from the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"This special meeting aims to discuss issues related to the United States' reciprocal tariffs announced on April 2, 2025, especially their impact on ASEAN member countries, as well as ASEAN's collective strategy and response going forward,” Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono Moegiarso noted in his statement on Friday.
Susiwijono explained that in principle, the ASEAN countries agreed that the bloc should conduct a dialogue to maintain good relations with the US.
ASEAN members also agreed not to retaliate against the US.
He emphasized that the ASEAN will remain steadfast in deepening regional economic integration, seizing opportunities amid global challenges, and maintaining a predictable, transparent, non-discriminatory, equitable, inclusive, and open regional economic environment that has supported the growth of regional trade and development.
Hence, ASEAN will promote the ASEAN-US Trade and Investment Framework (TIFA) and the ASEAN-US Strategic Partnership as platforms for identifying shared interests between ASEAN and the US.
Secondly, the bloc is upholding commitments in the ASEAN Agreement and increasing intra-ASEAN trade through the ASEAN Trade-in-Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).
Thirdly, ASEAN will persist in seeking new trading partners while maintaining its existing trade relationships.
Lastly, ASEAN will further explore the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to attract new members so ASEAN can reduce its reliance on specific markets and diversify its options.
According to Susiwijono, ASEAN is committed to continue the engagement with the US following a discussion between Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and Prime Minister of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday (April 3) requesting that Malaysia, as the ASEAN chair, play an active role in engaging with the US.
“During the ASEAN Economic Ministers Special Meeting, we also discussed the formation of the ASEAN Geoeconomics Task Force and the plan to organize an ASEAN Virtual Summit to follow up on this AEM Special Meeting," Susiwijono added.
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Translator: Bayu Saputra, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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