• ASEAN nations face tariffs ranging from 10% to 40% impacting trade with the US.
• Vietnam risks losing $25 billion annually due to a 20% tariff on its goods.
• US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer plans to finalize trade deals with Southeast Asian countries.
• A unified ASEAN approach to tariffs is under discussion amid competing national interests.
• Concerns about potential 100% tariffs on semiconductors loom over negotiations.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) finds itself grappling with US tariffs imposed on its member nations, ranging from 10% to 40%, as US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer prepares to meet with regional economic ministers. This meeting in Kuala Lumpur will address pressing economic concerns and the possibility of leveraging existing trade agreements as a counter to the tariffs that threaten regional economic growth, according to South China Morning Post and Reuters.

In light of these developments, Vietnam, which is among the hardest hit by the tariffs, is projected to risk an annual loss of $25 billion due to the imposed 20% tariff on its exports. The nation now stands as the sixth-largest exporter to the US, facing significant economic repercussions from these levies, as noted by both The Jakarta Post and Bangkok Post.

During the Kuala Lumpur meeting, Greer indicated that progress has been made in discussions about more favorable trade conditions, with the US eying to finalize agreements with several Southeast Asian countries soon. Such negotiations are crucial, especially as some nations like Indonesia and Vietnam have already secured lower tariffs through separate discussions, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

However, the economic minister's attempts to approach these tariffs in unity could be challenging given the diverse interests and economic statuses of ASEAN members. As noted by various sources, US President Donald Trump has proposed potential tariffs of around 100% specifically on semiconductors, further complicating the landscape of regional negotiations and the futures of key industries in nations such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, according to The Jakarta Post and South China Morning Post.