Trade war in focus at Asean summit ahead of Trump arrival

The 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) held its key regional summit in Manila, grappling with the Middle East crisis, their own regional flashpoints, and US President Donald Trump's trade war. Trump was set to arrive on Tuesday, concluding the summit with meetings with leaders from India, Japan, and Australia, marking the first such sit-down of his second term.

Brazil's newly elected President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his concerns over the US tariffs, stating that his country had shifted its focus to regional partners like Indonesia and Vietnam, witnessing a 15% and 13% increase in trade, respectively. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the development of a diverse network of reliable partners to reduce reliance on the US.

The US rolled out nearly 20,000 police officers to maintain order during the summit, with progressive groups anticipating thousands of protesters to take part in an anti-Trump march on Tuesday. Lula met with Carney, inviting him to visit Brazil and hoped to double trade with Canada. The US's trade war initiative, known as the Pax Silica program, aimed at countering China's dominance in semiconductors and rare earths, faces resistance in the Philippines as it threatens to displace indigenous families.

The Philippine government blocked an attempted march towards the summit site, arresting three protesters. The Asean summit also addressed unfinished business such as the South China Sea Code of Conduct and relations with Myanmar, which has been excluded from high-level meetings since a military coup in 2021. The Philippines and Thailand, leading the charge for closer relations with Myanmar, called for the country's foreign minister to be allowed back into meetings.

Although there was a possibility of achieving a Code of Conduct in the disputed South China Sea, it was unlikely to be signed during the summit, with Asean diplomat Siew Mun Tang stating that negotiations were 80% complete.