ASEAN to host Trump at summit as US and China seek to avert trade war escalation

The bloc of Southeast Asian nations will host world leaders at a summit this weekend that will run alongside pivotal trade talks between the United States and China and serve as the first stop for U.S. President Donald Trump's swing through Asia.



The Association of Southeast Asian Nations will press for trade multilateralism and deeper ties with new partners, while managing the fallout from Trump's global tariff offensive at its annual meeting in Malaysia's capital.



Trump will be in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday to begin a five-day trip through Malaysia, Japan and South Korea, aimed at bolstering his diplomatic credentials, as U.S. and Chinese officials work to avert a trade war escalation ahead of his planned meeting with China's President Xi Jinping in South Korea next week.



Trump is expected to be accompanied on his Asia trip by top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.



Trump said he expected to reach agreements with Xi that could range from resumed soybean purchases by China to limits on nuclear weapons. Trump could also meet with Brazil's Lula in Malaysia, sources have said, as Rio looks to lower hefty U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods.