Thailand’s Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Malaysia to finalize a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, an event that US President Donald Trump is expected to witness following his withdrawal from the ASEAN Summit due to the passing of Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit. Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations convened in Kuala Lumpur to kick off a weekend of global diplomacy, where trade discussions between the United States and China also took place.
Trump is set to arrive on Sunday for the initial leg of his Asia tour and is poised to observe the signing of a broader ceasefire pact between Cambodia and Thailand, which he helped facilitate following a deadly five-day border clash in July. The conflict resulted in numerous casualties and the temporary displacement of approximately 300,000 individuals, marking the most severe confrontation between the neighboring Southeast Asian nations in recent memory.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that he had requested the ceasefire ceremony to be held on Sunday morning, after which he would return to Thailand. Anutin also mentioned his absence from the upcoming APEC Summit in South Korea. The Thai cabinet is slated to convene on Saturday morning to deliberate on the funeral arrangements.
At the annual ASEAN meeting, discussions will focus on advocating for trade multilateralism, strengthening ties with new partners, and addressing the repercussions of Trump’s global tariff policies. Furthermore, East Timor is set to be welcomed as the 11th member of ASEAN. Concurrently, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will engage in trade negotiations with a Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier He Lifeng.
The world’s top two economies are seeking a path forward after Trump’s threat to impose new 100% tariffs on Chinese goods starting November 1 in response to China’s increased export controls on rare earth materials. Several world leaders, such as Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Brazilian President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, and Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, are expected to join Trump at the summit. A meeting between Trump and Lula is anticipated, with discussions focused on the 50% tariffs imposed by the US on Brazilian products. Trump indicated a willingness to consider reducing tariffs on Brazil under suitable conditions.
Trump clarified that he does not plan to hold a similar meeting with Carney and expressed contentment with the existing trade agreement with Canada. Trade negotiations with Canada were abruptly halted following a dispute over an advertisement released by Ontario’s provincial government featuring former President Ronald Reagan, a situation Trump labeled as deceptive.