Kao Kim Hourn says the US’s tariffs strike at the very foundation of open trade and investment, which for decades have underpinned Asean’s growth and prosperity.
00:00ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Horn has called for the region to function as a single market to strengthen its position following the sweeping tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
00:14Kao said the tariffs sent shockwaves across the global trading system and struck the very foundation of corporate trade and investment, which had underpinned ASEAN's growth and prosperity for decades.
00:26He said ASEAN's vision is to become a global supply chain hub through its transformation into a single market.
00:34He said the ASEAN Economic Minister's special meeting tomorrow would assess the impact of the U.S.'s tariffs on each ASEAN member country and the bloc as a whole.
00:44Kao said without urgent and collective action to accelerate intra-ASEAN economic integration, the region faced increased risks from global trade tensions and uncertainty.
00:54He said ASEAN must act decisively to reaffirm its commitment to a stable, predictable and business-friendly environment.
