ASEAN Summit opens with focus on tariffs, expansion, and regional power grid

Malaysia pushes energy integration as ASEAN eyes 2045 vision. (Photo: ASEAN)

The two-day ASEAN Leaders’ Summit kicked off on May 26, with discussions centered on U.S. tariffs, ASEAN expansion, and the situation in Myanmar. Host country Malaysia is looking to position the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) as one of the summit’s signature achievements, according to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Leaders to announce 2045 ASEAN Community Vision

U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff announcement in April, targeting selected imported goods, has sent ripples across international markets, severely impacting ASEAN economies. In his opening address, Prime Minister Anwar revealed that he had sent a personal letter to President Trump, requesting a meeting between Trump and ASEAN leaders to jointly address the tariff issue.

Anwar emphasized that unilateral U.S. tariff actions mark a resurgence of protectionism. In response, ASEAN has agreed not to take retaliatory measures and instead formed a working group to coordinate national-level negotiations and collective strategies to deal with U.S. trade barriers.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that he has sent a letter requesting U.S. President Trump to discuss tariff issues with ASEAN. (Photo: ASEAN)

The summit is also expected to unveil the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 (ACV2045), a strategic blueprint outlining the region’s long-term development in four key areas: political-security, economy, socio-cultural integration, and connectivity. ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn told Vietnam News Agency that the ACV2045 initiative reflects the bloc’s ambition to become a strong, resilient, innovative, and people-centered community.

Progress is also anticipated on the long-standing application of Timor-Leste to join ASEAN. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan confirmed that the formal review process, which began in 2011, may conclude by October, potentially making Timor-Leste the 11th member state.

Malaysia champions ASEAN Power Grid Integration

Energy cooperation is emerging as a focal point of Malaysia’s chairmanship. During a bilateral meeting on the 25th with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Anwar highlighted a power grid project linking northern and southern Vietnam and connecting via undersea cables to Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. He described it as a key deliverable of this year’s ASEAN agenda.

Since assuming the rotating ASEAN chair, Malaysia has actively pushed for progress on the ASEAN Power Grid initiative. The initial phase focuses on interconnecting Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore.

A second phase aims to expand connectivity from Laos through Cambodia and Thailand down to Singapore. An enhanced memorandum of understanding on the ASEAN Power Grid is expected to be signed at the ASEAN Energy Ministers’ Meeting in October, enabling greater cross-border renewable electricity trade in the region.

Source: Vietnam+, The Sun, AP, The Malaysian Reserve, Free Malaysia Today, AFP