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Rubio to make first Asia trip as Trump unveils tariffs on host and allies
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit marks a renewed US focus on the Indo-Pacific.
WASHINGTON – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Malaysia later this week to attend a meeting of South-east Asian nations in his first trip to Asia as America's top diplomat, the State Department said on July 7, even as President Donald Trump announced hefty tariffs on the hosts and other regional partners and allies .
The State Department billed the July 8 to 12 trip as a move to reaffirm Washington's commitment to the Indo-Pacific.
Hours later, Mr Trump said he would impose 25 per cent tariffs from Aug 1 on imports from Japan and South Korea, the key US regional allies and vital partners in countering China's growing might.
Mr Trump also announced plans for
tariffs on Malaysia and five other countries in the 10-member Association of South-east Asian Nations, whose ministers Mr Rubio will join for meetings in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia faces a 25 per cent tariff, Laos and Myanmar 40 per cent, Cambodia and US ally Thailand 36 per cent, and Indonesia 32 per cent.
Mr Rubio will seek to firm up US relationships with partners and allies unnerved by Mr Trump's global tariff strategy.
Mr Trump's announcements seemed certain to make that task harder.
The trip has been seen as part of a renewed US focus on the Indo-Pacific and an effort to look beyond conflicts in the Middle East and Europe that have consumed much of the Trump administration's attention.
'Top topics that he's going to want to hit, obviously, are to reaffirm our commitment to East Asia, to Asean, to the Indo-Pacific, and not just ... for its own sake,' a senior State Department official told reporters.
'I think a key message that the secretary likes to deliver is that we're committed, and we prioritise it because it is in America's interests, right? It promotes American prosperity and it promotes American security.'
The official added that Rubio would be prepared to discuss trade, which is likely to come up during the trip, including reiterating that the need to rebalance the US' trade relationships is significant and echoing any messages from the White House and US Trade Representative.
Asean countries have been nervous about Mr Trump's tariffs and have questioned the willingness of his 'America First' administration to fully engage diplomatically and economically with the region.
'There is a hunger to be reassured that the US actually views the Indo-Pacific as the primary theater of US interests, key to US national security,' said Mr Greg Poling, director of the South-east Asia Programme at Washington's Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
Trade pacts
Mr Trump on July 6 said the US was close to finalising several trade pacts and would notify other countries by July 9 of higher tariff rates.
He also sent a message to members of the developing nations' Brics group as its leaders met in Brazil,
threatening an additional 10 per cent tariff on any Brics countries aligning themselves with 'anti-American' policies.
The Brics includes Asean member Indonesia, as well as China and India.
Mr Trump last week announced he reached a trade agreement with important South-east Asian partner and Asean member Vietnam and could reach one with India, but cast doubt on a possible deal with Japan, Washington's main Indo-Pacific ally and a major importer and investor in the United States.
Mr Rubio has yet to visit Japan, or neighbouring South Korea, the other major US ally in North-east Asia, since taking office in January, even though Washington sees the Indo-Pacific as its main strategic priority given the perceived threat posed by China.
South Korea's presidential security adviser Wi Sung-lac headed to Washington on July 6 for trade and defence talks, with Seoul seeking an extension of a freeze on US tariffs.
Mr Wi's office said he would be in Washington until July 8 and aimed to meet with Mr Rubio and discuss a possible summit between Mr Trump and President Lee Jae Myung, who took office in June . REUTERS
