Trump inks U.S. deals on trade, critical minerals with Southeast Asian partners

Sign up now: Get STs newsletters delivered to your inbox

Malaysias Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Thailands Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet look on as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks ahead of the signing of a ceasefire deal between Cambodia and Thailand on the sidelines of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 26, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

KUALA LUMPUR - U.S. President Donald Trump signed a flurry of deals on trade and critical minerals with three Southeast Asian partners on Sunday, as Washington looked to address trade imbalances and diversify supply chains amid tighter export curbs on rare earths by China.

Trump, who is in Kuala Lumpur to attend a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, signed reciprocal trade agreements with his Thai, Malaysian and Cambodian counterparts that will see the countries work to address tariff and non-tariff barriers.

The United States would maintain a tariff rate of 19% on most exports from all three countries under the deals, according to joint statements released by the White House.

Trump also inked U.S. deals with Thailand and Malaysia seeking cooperation to diversify critical minerals supply chains, amid competing efforts from Beijing in the rapidly growing sector.

Reuters reported exclusively last month that China was in talks with Kuala Lumpur on rare earths processing, with Malaysian sovereign wealth