President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. departed for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday to attend the 46th ASEAN Summit, where regional leaders are expected to draw up a collective response to the United States’ (US) new tariff measures.

Before boarding his flight at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Marcos revealed that informal consultations had already begun among ASEAN leaders, signaling a shift in the bloc’s economic posture amid rising global trade tensions.

“I will add to that list of issues the discussions which we will continue, as we have already had preliminary discussions with the Chair of ASEAN, Malaysia, specifically PM Anwar on the proper response of ASEAN as a group towards the new tariff schedule being imposed by the United States,” Marcos said.

“We have already made informal consultations with our fellow member states and their representatives with the Chairman, PM Anwar, on this subject. It is something that we have to discuss, and it is something that we have to respond to,” he added.

While ASEAN remains a diverse group with varying trade dependencies, Marcos stressed the need to build consensus.

“We must find a way to reach consensus among the disparate situations the different member states are operating under,” he said.

The unexpected trade angle adds new urgency to the high-level meetings, which were initially framed around the summit’s core theme: Inclusivity and Sustainability.

Beyond trade, Marcos said the Philippines would continue championing ASEAN’s central role in addressing regional challenges, including tensions in the South China Sea, the Myanmar crisis, and the governance of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.

He underscored the importance of developing a regional framework for ethical and responsible AI, grounded in shared ASEAN values.

“At this Summit, I will join fellow ASEAN Leaders in reaffirming our commitment to ASEAN Centrality as we navigate pressing regional and global challenges, including developments in the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar, threats to regional peace and maritime security, as well as the far-reaching impacts of climate change, economic volatility, and digital disruption,” he said.

“I will also highlight the Philippines’ commitment to the development of a common regional framework for ethical and responsible Artificial Intelligence aligned with ASEAN values.”

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Marcos will attend the Plenary and Retreat sessions of the summit, meet with ASEAN parliamentarians, youth, and business leaders, and witness the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045.

He will also chair the 16th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit and join the ASEAN-GCC and ASEAN-GCC-China Summits.

Bilateral meetings with leaders of Laos, Kuwait and Vietnam are also possible on the sidelines.

During Marcos’ absence, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin heads the government’s caretaker committee, alongside Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrad Estrella III. (PNA)