Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz held urgent talks this week to align strategies against recent U.S. tariff hikes, signaling a growing regional pushback against unilateral trade measures. The virtual meeting, announced by China’s Ministry of Commerce, emphasized strengthening economic ties between China, Malaysia, and ASEAN amid rising tensions.
Minister Wang criticized the U.S. tariffs as 'a typical act of unilateral bullying' that undermines decades of multilateral trade progress and disproportionately harms developing economies. 'The U.S. has long benefited from global trade but now jeopardizes the system that enabled its growth,' he stated, reaffirming China’s 'decisive countermeasures' and readiness to 'fight till the end' if tensions escalate.
Malaysia, currently chairing ASEAN, echoed China’s concerns. Minister Zafrul confirmed the country’s formal opposition to the U.S. policy, calling it incompatible with WTO principles. 'We stand with our trading partners to defend multilateralism,' he said, promising coordinated action through ASEAN forums.
The dialogue highlights a broader shift toward Asia-led trade solidarity. Analysts note that China-ASEAN collaboration, which saw $911 billion in two-way trade in 2023, could reshape supply chain strategies and fortify regional resilience against external pressures.
