Sweeping tariffs set to be imposed by President Donald Trump next month may cast a pall over his top diplomat’s first official trip to Asia this week — just as the United States seeks to boost relations with Indo-Pacific nations.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio departed for Malaysia on Tuesday for meetings with ASEAN allies, a trip that has been overshadowed by fears of a trade war. The brief trip to Kuala Lumpur is intended to allow Rubio,

The U.S. State Department announced Monday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will head to Malaysia Tuesday, just after threats of higher tariffs made by President Donald Trump on nations aligned with BRICS.