Category: Free Trade Agreement

Malaysia’s U.S. Trade Pact Triggers China, Sovereignty Backlash

The United States is moving to cut China out of the supply chains for rare earths, critical minerals, and advanced electronics, and it is using Malaysia-U.S. rare earths deal to do it, as said by one of the top opposition figure in Malaysia.

China Urges ASEAN Unity as ACFTA 3.0 Trade Pact Signed

China urges ASEAN unity and told Southeast Asian governments to stand with Beijing against “power politics and economic bullying” as it signed an upgraded free trade pact with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Tuesday. Chinese Premier Li Qiang ...

China Backs RCEP, Warns Protectionism Threatens Region

China backs RCEP, told Asian governments that it will defend open trade and keep regional supply chains stable through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Chinese Premier Li Qiang, at a summit in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, said China ...

China–ASEAN Trade Nears $1,05 Trillion as Surplus Hits $278 Billion

China and ASEAN are set to pass the trade threshold in 2025, with nearly $1.05 trillion in goods. That would leave China with a surplus that swells past $278 billion, a big step up from 2024. Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, the ...

China-Backed Free Trade Giant RCEP Mulls Expansion and Upgrade

China-backed trade platform in Asia, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), will return to the leaders’ level in October for the first time since 2020. Malaysia, the summit host, says the 15-economy pact will consider targeted upgrades and weigh applications ...

Analysis from Cobus van Staden

How to Lure Chinese Financing Back to the Global South: Report

Global South countries face increasing financing pressure, endangering their ability to keep developing while also implementing measures to deal with a growing climate crisis. The disruption of global trade is coupled with a larger megatrend: flows of international capital to the developing world have turned negative. This means that countries are now routinely paying more to service loans than they receive in disbursements.

The vast majority of Global South borrowers ...

CAEXPO Wrap: China Pitches an Operating System for ASEAN Trade

China wrapped CAEXPO in Nanning with a pitch that goes beyond product sales. The expo presented AI-ready factory “cells,” a low-speed autonomous shuttle, and a Beibu Gulf satellite. It also showcases vocational pipelines and an ACFTA 3.0 upgrade. The offer ...

China–ASEAN FTA 3.0 Set for October: All On Digital Trade Rules

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN will sign an upgrade to their free-trade agreement at the ASEAN–China summit in Kuala Lumpur in October. The deal sets digital trade, from e-commerce to data governance and payments, ...