**Southeast Asian Leaders Seek Unified Tariff Talks with Trump, Says Malaysia PM: A Comedy of Errors**
In a bold move that has left economists scratching their heads and comedians rolling on the floor, Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that Southeast Asian leaders are banding together to negotiate unified tariff talks with none other than the King of Tweets himself, Donald Trump. “We figured if we’re going to get roasted, we might as well do it together,” said PM Ismail, sporting a T-shirt that read “Make Tariffs Great Again.”
The summit, dubbed “Tariffpalooza 2023,” is set to take place in a virtual reality conference room where participants will don VR headsets and pretend they’re in a luxurious golf resort. “We thought it would be more fun than a regular Zoom call,” said Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who added, “Plus, I can finally beat Trump at golf without him knowing.”
Sources close to the negotiations revealed that the leaders plan to present Trump with a series of increasingly ridiculous tariff proposals, including a 500% tax on all products that don’t come with a complimentary fortune cookie. “We’re hoping he’ll bite,” said Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, who is convinced that Trump has a soft spot for cookies.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong expressed his concerns, stating, “If we don’t get this right, we might end up paying tariffs on our own sense of humor.” He then proceeded to tell a joke about a tariff and a chicken crossing the road, which left everyone in the virtual room confused and slightly concerned for his well-being.
As the leaders prepare for their historic talks, one thing is clear: whether they succeed or fail, the world will be watching—and laughing. “At the end of the day, if we can’t agree on tariffs, at least we can agree on one thing,” PM Ismail concluded. “We all need a good laugh, especially when it comes to negotiating with Trump.”
Stay tuned for updates on this unfolding comedy of errors, where the only thing more inflated than the tariffs might just be the egos involved!
