Trump seeks fairness, reciprocity on trade with ASEAN

November 13, 2017

United States President Donald Trump sought on Monday fairness and reciprocity on its trade relations with the 10-member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Trump made the call during the 5th ASEAN-US Summit Commemoration and 40th Anniversary of ASEAN-US Dialogue Relations held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

"Today, we celebrate your incredible success and we also seek economic partnerships on the basis of fairness and reciprocity," he said.

Trump vowed that the US will work with ASEAN to achieve a "truly free and open Indo-Pacific  where we are proud and we have sovereign nations and we thrive and everybody wants to prosper."

He said the US remains committed to ASEAN central role as a regional forum for total cooperation.

In the same remarks, Trump congratulated President Rodrigo Duterte for the successful hosting of ASEAN 2017.

Calling Duterte on his first name, he said, "Rodrigo, I would like to commend you on your success as ASEAN Chair at this very critical moment in time and in the Association’s history, such an important event." Celerina Monte/DMS