MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned today that global trade was being weaponised as south-east Asia’s foreign ministers opened an annual meeting while facing the looming threat of United States trade tariffs.

The concerns over the tariffs have jolted the 10-member bloc Association of South east Asian Nations (Asean), as six Asean members among the 14 countries that could see duties on their exports to the US skyrocket on August 1.

Launching the Asean foreign ministers’ meeting, Mr Anwar said the world was now witnessing an era where “power unsettles principle” and “tools once used to generate growth are now wielded to pressure, isolate and contain.”

Without mentioning the US by name, he again urged Asean to work together to respond to trade threats.

“Our cohesion must not end at declarations,” he said, calling for members to increase intra-Asean trade, invest in regional integration, and reduce strategic dependencies on external powers. 

He added: “This is no passing storm. It is the new weather of our time.”

US President Donald Trump first announced tariffs in April, but then delayed them for 90 days to allow for deals. 

On Tuesday, he announced new tariffs with rates of between 25-40 per cent on 14 countries, which will go into effect August 1 unless new deals are struck. He also threatened to increase tariffs if any countries retaliate.

Many Asean members have launched bilateral talks with the US, but officials have said they plan to hold an Asean-US summit later this year to seek a common position.

So far in the region, only Vietnam has secured a deal, bringing down its tariffs from 46 per cent to 20 per cent.

The list threatens 36 per cent tariffs for Thailand and Cambodia, 32 per cent for Indonesia, 25 per cent for Malaysia, and 40 per cent for Laos and Myanmar.