ASEAN Summit Opens in Manila: Trade War, Trump & Quad on Agenda
The 49th ASEAN Summit opened in Manila with trade war tensions dominating, as Donald Trump heads to the city for the first Quad meeting of his second term.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Stephanie Tumampos/DFAT
MANILA, Sunday, November 15, 2026 — The 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit opened in Manila on Sunday, with trade, security and energy on the agenda and US President Donald Trump due on Tuesday for the first Quad leaders’ meeting of his second term. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the ceremony, attended by nine heads of state and two representatives from the bloc’s 11 member states.
The summit opened under the shadow of Trump’s tariff campaign. Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney used the gathering to press for partnerships that reduce reliance on the United States.
Key Takeaways
- The 49th ASEAN Summit opened in Manila on Sunday, with nine heads of state and two representatives from the 11 member states.
- Donald Trump arrives on Tuesday for the first Quad meeting of his second term, days before a Xi-Putin meeting in Shenzhen.
- Brazil’s President Lula said trade with Indonesia and Vietnam had jumped 15 percent and 13 percent.
- Nearly 20,000 police officers are deployed around Metro Manila; about 200 protesters clashed with police on Sunday.
When Will Trump Arrive in Manila and What Is the Quad Meeting About?
Trump arrives on Tuesday for a sideline meeting with the leaders of his fellow Quad countries — India, Japan and Australia — the first such sit-down of his second term. The Quad is a grouping broadly aimed at counterbalancing China’s regional influence, and the Manila meeting comes days before a sit-down with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin in Shenzhen.
What Did Lula and Carney Say About Trump’s Tariffs at the ASEAN Summit?
Lula said Brazil had learned from the US decision to impose tariffs. “Instead of weeping or begging the US government to have pity on us, we decided to look for other partners,” he said, noting trade with Indonesia and Vietnam had jumped 15 percent and 13 percent.
Carney announced a new Philippine free-trade deal and said ASEAN trade talks had been “substantially concluded”. The pacts were part of a strategy to build “a dense web of reliable partners” and reduce reliance on the United States, he said. For background, see China’s pause on US tariffs.
What Is the Pax Silica Programme and Why Are Filipinos Protesting It?
Much of the street anger targets the US Pax Silica programme, a supply-chain initiative countering China’s dominance in semiconductors and rare earths. Its flagship Philippine project, a 1,620-hectare AI hub north of Manila, threatens to displace Indigenous families, campaigners say.
On Sunday, about 200 protesters with signs reading “the Philippines is not for sale” and “Ban Trump!” clashed with police who blocked a march towards the summit site; at least three were taken away in a police van.
| Summit fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Attendance | Nine heads of state and two representatives from 11 states |
| Trump arrival | Tuesday, November 17, for the first Quad meeting of his second term |
| Security | Nearly 20,000 police officers deployed around Metro Manila |
Two issues look set to remain unresolved. A diplomat said he did not expect a South China Sea Code of Conduct to be signed, and Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro put talks at “80 percent” complete. Myanmar stays excluded from high-level meetings since a 2021 coup, and both issues are likely to become Singapore’s problem when it takes the chair in 2027. The Shenzhen sit-down with Xi and Putin follows on Thursday, November 19.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Trump arrive at the ASEAN Summit 2026?
The summit opened on Sunday, November 15, 2026, in Manila. Donald Trump arrives on Tuesday, November 17, for the first Quad meeting of his second term.
What is the Quad and why is its Manila meeting significant?
The Quad groups the United States, India, Japan and Australia to counterbalance China’s regional influence. The Manila meeting is the first Quad leaders’ sit-down of Trump’s second term.
What is the South China Sea Code of Conduct?
It is a set of rules for managing South China Sea disputes between ASEAN states and China, which Beijing claims almost entirely despite an international ruling against that claim. Talks are about 80 percent complete.
What is Pax Silica and why are protesters opposing it?
Pax Silica is a US supply-chain programme to counter China’s dominance in semiconductors and rare earths. Its flagship Philippine project is a 1,620-hectare AI hub north of Manila that campaigners say threatens to displace Indigenous families.
Trump arrives on Tuesday, when the Quad meeting and an anti-Trump march are set.
