Asean seeks relief at Thursday talks as US tariffs bite, but turning the tide won’t be easy

[KUALA LUMPUR] Top economic officials from South-east Asia are set to convene virtually on Thursday (Apr 10) for high-stakes talks as Washington’s punitive tariffs rattle the region’s export-driven economies, though doubts linger over whether the session can shift the tide or bring meaningful change.

“Tariffs are not coming down,” said Taimur Baig, managing director and chief economist at DBS Group at a webinar on Tuesday. “The US wants jobs back onshore. Even if countries reduce tariffs to zero, the US may not change its stance.”

Thursday’s session, convened by Malaysia as this year’s Asean chair, comes amid mounting unease across the region as Washington rolled out duties – ranging from 10 to 49 per cent – on a broad swathe of exports, threatening to derail the bloc’s trade-driven recovery.