Asean to discuss united response to ‘Liberation Day’

MANILA, Philippines — Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque on Wednesday said she is set to meet with her counterparts from members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) today (Thursday) to discuss a possible united front to respond to US President Donald Trump’s punitive tariffs on dozens of countries that took effect on Wednesday.

“Let’s see what we can agree on there and see what we can do to be able to work hand in hand as Asean (members),” Roque told reporters on the sidelines of the National Food Fair at SM Megamall.

Trump announced his latest controversial trade policy last April 2, branding it as part of his so-called “Liberation Day.”

READ: Trump’s latest round of tariffs are poised to go into effect. Here’s what we know

The new US levy on Philippine exports starting April 9 is 18 percent, still lower than the 34-percent tariff on American goods coming to the country and much less punitive than those imposed on the country’s Asean neighbors: Cambodia (49 percent), Vietnam (46 percent), Thailand (36 percent), Indonesia (32 percent) and Malaysia (24 percent). Only Singapore will be subject to a baseline tariff of 10 percent.

Roque said she believed the most effective Asean approach would be to pursue negotiations aimed at reducing the tariffs.

However, she also emphasized the importance of identifying potential opportunities for the Philippines that may arise from the current situation.

“The tariff rates we are subjected to are low compared to, let’s say, dried mangoes. Our main competitor is Cambodia, but Cambodia is subjected to a tariff rate of 49 percent. So, that’s a major edge for us,” she noted.

Roque said the Philippine government is also actively pursuing free trade agreements with several countries to enhance its overall trade position.

“There are a lot of countries we are looking at. There’s South America, there’s the Middle East, there’s Asia, and so many others, especially for products that are in demand like what we have,” she said.

Dialogue

Asean governments have chosen not to retaliate against Washington, preferring dialogue.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said retaliation was never an option for the Philippines in tackling the tariffs that Trump imposed on Filipino goods and that there are no plans to lower the tariffs on imported US goods “for now.”

On Wednesday, Asean Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn told an investment conference in Kuala Lumpur that the bloc must “act boldly” to accelerate regional economic integration, as sweeping US tariffs leave much of the world caught in the middle of a devastating trade war.

“To remain relevant and resilient in a world where economic chaos is fast becoming the new normal, we must act boldly, decisively and together to reaffirm Asean’s commitment to a stable, predictable, and business-friendly environment,” he said.

He was speaking on the eve of a meeting of Asean economic and finance ministers as well as central bank governors in Kuala Lumpur to discuss how to respond to the US tariffs.

But their export-oriented economies risk being hurt by a global trade war after China—another key market—imposed its own tariffs on the United States.

“Without urgent and collective action to accelerate intra-Asean economic integration and diversify our markets and partnerships, we risk ceding our place in a fractured and fast-evolving global economy,” Kao said.

While China, which was slapped with a massive 104-percent duty, other countries hit with punitive tariffs are taking the negotiation route.

Trump’s administration has scheduled talks with South Korea and Japan, two close allies and major trading partners, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is due to visit next week.  

(2025/04/10-05:34)