They also called on ASEAN to strengthen collaborative resilience to navigate the adversarial climate caused by fractures between the world's two largest economies. "Work as a single ASEAN, to trade between ourselves and make it seamless between ourselves. That could reduce the impact that is forthcoming because of this tariff war," he concluded. "If there is US$60 billion worth of trade into the US with a 25 per cent tariff and vice versa, and the threat of $200 billion worth of trade under a tariff of that sort, I don't know at what point trade friction becomes trade war," he said. "ASEAN negotiators should have in their mind that the intention is to see their neighbours prosper.

Source: The Nation Bangkok September 13, 2018 00:45 UTC