Rubio, Wang hold constructive talks amid rising tariff tensions

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Friday, July 11th, 2025

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KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Malaysia on Friday, holding what he described as “positive and constructive” discussions amid escalating trade tensions between the two nations.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum, marked Rubio’s first official visit to Asia since assuming office. He emphasized that the talks aimed to “establish a baseline for continued dialogue” and said there was a “good chance” that U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping would meet in the near future.
Rubio’s visit comes as Washington’s latest round of steep tariffs has unsettled regional economies. Many Southeast Asian nations expressed concern over the deepening U.S.-China trade dispute and the growing pressure to choose sides.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, meanwhile, accused Washington of imposing “abusive” tariffs and urged regional counterparts to strengthen intra-Asian economic ties. He said that regional resilience depended on “diversifying trade partnerships” and resisting external pressure.
ASEAN foreign ministers voiced shared concerns, warning that trade barriers could destabilize growth in developing economies. Several emphasized the need for open, rules-based trade and reduced reliance on any single major economy.
Despite the tensions, Rubio said he believed diplomacy remained on track. “We’re not looking for confrontation, but we are committed to fair trade and strategic stability,” he said, adding that Washington remained open to further negotiations with Beijing.
The U.S.-China trade standoff has cast a long shadow over this year’s summit, but observers say high-level engagement may help ease tensions ahead of a possible Trump-Xi meeting in coming weeks.