Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned Wednesday that global trade is being weaponized as Southeast Asia’s foreign ministers opened an annual meeting while facing the looming threat of U.S. trade tariffs.

US President Donald Trump's letters on tariff increases are sending shivers through Southeast Asia. Malaysia will face a 25 percent tariff, one percent higher than the rate announced in April. The country has expressed concerns that unilateral measures could disrupt business activities that benefit both countries.

Chinese businesses are sending increasing volumes of goods to the US via south-east Asia in a bid to evade the tariff wall erected by Donald Trump as part of his trade war, data suggests.