TRUMP WANTS “FAIR AND RECIPROCAL TERMS”
His comments come as Southeast Asian economies navigate uncertainty surrounding Washington’s trade policies, raising questions about their impact on US ties with the region.
Asked whether recent tariff negotiations risked undermining trust between the US and ASEAN, Kim stressed that “the president wants fair and reciprocal terms”.
“That is the driving ethos of what is underpinning our trade agenda,” he said, adding that Washington wanted to rebalance its trading relationships, including by ensuring that goods entering the US were not produced using forced labour.
He highlighted the scale of American investment in Southeast Asia, which he said exceeded US$500 billion – more than US investments in China, Hong Kong, India, South Korea and Japan combined.
More than 6,000 American companies also operate across the region.
Kim said US investment benefits Southeast Asia by helping countries diversify their supply chains and create jobs.
“I think the governments and the people of Southeast Asia recognise that the United States has to be involved, and that we are an indispensable partner in the region,” he added.
During a visit to Manila for the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting last month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a US$2.5 billion package of strategic investments in Southeast Asia, targeting areas including energy security and future technologies.