China Presses Malaysia and Cambodia Over US Trade Deals

China presses Malaysia and Cambodia over US trade deals that add security-alignment clauses on export controls, sanctions, and screening.
US President Donald Trump (L) and Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (R) hold signed documents during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)

China has asked Malaysia and Cambodia to explain the trade agreements they signed with the United States in October, issuing rare public complaints that the deals require the two Southeast Asian governments to adopt American security-related trade measures.

China’s Ministry of Commerce said officials raised “grave concerns” about parts of the U.S.–Malaysia agreement during a meeting with Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry on Tuesday.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest news and analysis from Africa, Asia, and across the Global South.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China’s relations across the Global South.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Edwin Shri Bimo

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2
Uncertainty Roils Minerals Markets
3 Chinese Scholars See Russia’s Venezuela Strategy as a Model of Hybrid Power Projection in the U.S.’ Backyard
4 From J-10C to Kaan? Indonesia’s Fighter Jet Deal With Turkey Shocks Chinese Military Fans
5 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
6
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors

You Might Like

China and Malaysia are in early talks on a rare earths refinery talks, with Chinese tech transfer, amid supply and environmental hurdles.

China–Malaysia in Rare Earths Refinery Talks, With Tech Transfer

China and Malaysia are in early talks on a rare-earth processing project. The potential collaboration could involve Chinese state-linked firms partnering with Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional to build a refinery ...
Malaysia will fast-track a joint Malaysia–China rare earths investment via Khazanah to deepen the rare earths supply chain.

Malaysia to Fast-Track Joint Rare Earths Investment with China: PM

Kuala Lumpur will fast-track and speed up talks on a joint Malaysia-China rare earths investment via Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund, Khazanah Nasional, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today. “During my meeting with ...
Thailand’s rare earth deal with the U.S. draws backlash at home, with critics warning it gives Washington first shot and shuts out China.

Thailand Faces Backlash Over U.S. Rare Earth Deal Aimed at China

The U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Sunday signed a rare earths and critical minerals memorandum on the sidelines of an ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur. ...
China pauses its U.S.-targeted curbs on gallium and germanium until 2026, reopening key chip-metal exports after the Xi–Trump thaw.

China Pauses U.S.-Targeted Curbs on Gallium & Germanium

China’s Commerce Ministry MOFCOM said Sunday that it pauses, or suspending U.S.-targeted export curbs on gallium, germanium and antimony. The suspension runs through November 27 next year and is reversible. Beijing ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP