US President Donald Trump began the first leg of his trip to Asia on Sunday (26). The head of the White House announced a series of trade agreements and participated in the signing of an expanded truce between Thailand and Cambodia, which has been negotiated since July.
Six hours after landing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, Trump announced trade agreements with four countries, met with regional leaders and spoke with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Lula said his teams would immediately begin discussions on tariffs.
Trump also said he was confident of reaching a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of a meeting scheduled for Thursday, when trade officials from both sides met for a second day in Kuala Lumpur and agreed on a framework for a trade deal.
Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire
Trump’s main objective on Sunday (26) was the signing of an agreement between Cambodia and Thailand, based on a ceasefire reached after his intervention to stop deadly clashes on the border, which earned him a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize for Cambodia.
At a ceremony with Thai and Cambodian leaders, against the backdrop of the US insignia and the words “Delivering Peace”, Trump said the agreement demonstrates his administration’s pursuit of peace “in every region where we can do it”.
“My administration immediately began working to prevent the conflict from escalating,” Trump said. “Everyone was surprised that we were able to do it so quickly.”
Negotiations to reduce the trade war
Upon arriving in Malaysia, Trump was greeted by Malaysia’s prime minister and a group of dancers, stopping briefly on the red carpet to dance with the performers.
As he mingled with other leaders, American and Chinese negotiators met behind the scenes to avoid further escalations in the trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
US officials said the meeting built a “successful framework” ahead of expected talks between Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi in South Korea.
“I think we’re going to reach a deal with China,” Trump told reporters, while Beijing’s top trade negotiator, Li Chenggang, said a preliminary consensus had been reached after “very intense consultations.”
Both sides are trying to avoid an escalation in the trade war after Trump threatened to impose new 100% tariffs on Chinese goods and other trade restrictions starting Nov. 1 in retaliation for China’s expanded controls on rare earth exports.
Within hours of landing in Malaysia, Trump and the White House announced six trade deals with four countries, some unexpected, including deals involving key minerals with Thailand and Malaysia, amid competing efforts by Beijing in the fast-growing sector.
Malaysia has agreed to refrain from banning or imposing quotas on exports to the United States of essential minerals or rare earth elements, the countries said. They did not specify whether Malaysia’s commitment applied to raw or processed rare earths.
Trump also announced detailed frameworks for broader trade deals with Cambodia and Thailand, while the White House said a deal had been reached with Vietnam to allow exporters from both countries “unprecedented” access to each other’s markets.
‘The United States is 100% behind you’
The US will maintain a 19% tariff on most exports from Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia, while a 20% tariff on Vietnam will also be maintained, the White House said. In all agreements, these tariffs may be eliminated for certain products.
Addressing the leaders of one of the regions hardest hit by the tariffs, Trump said: “Our message to the nations of Southeast Asia is that the United States stands with you 100% and we intend to be a strong partner for generations to come.”
Lula will seek to reduce tariffs imposed by Washington on Brazilian products by 50% amid growing trade tensions. In a post on X after meeting with Trump, he said that teams from both countries “will meet immediately to advance the search for solutions.”
Speaking alongside Lula, Trump expressed confidence in making “some very good deals for both countries.”
A meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was not in the plans after the abrupt end of negotiations between the neighbors. Trump said on Saturday (25) that he would increase tariffs on Canada by an additional 10% “above what they are paying now.”
