Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz held a video conference to discuss strengthening economic and trade cooperation and to jointly respond to recent U.S. tariff hikes.
During the meeting, Wang emphasized the importance of China-Malaysia and China-ASEAN collaboration in the face of what he termed “unilateral bullying” by the United States. He criticized the U.S. for imposing so-called reciprocal tariffs, stating that they ignore the hard-won balance of interests achieved through years of multilateral trade negotiations.
“The United States has long benefited substantially from global trade,” Wang said. “Their recent actions severely hurt the legitimate rights and interests of countries, including China and ASEAN members. If the U.S. is bent on going down the wrong path, China is ready to fight till the end.”
Wang called for strengthened communication and coordination with trading partners, including the ASEAN, to safeguard the multilateral trading system and resolve concerns through dialogue based on mutual respect.
Zafrul expressed Malaysia’s opposition to the U.S. policy, noting that it runs counter to the principles of free and fair trade as set out by the World Trade Organization. “Malaysia fully respects China’s stance and is committed to jointly supporting multilateralism and the advancement of global trade,” he said.
He added that Malaysia would engage in consultations with other ASEAN members to jointly respond to the U.S. tariff hikes and other measures, reinforcing the region’s commitment to unified action.
As Malaysia holds the rotating chair of the ASEAN, the collaboration between China and Malaysia signals a stronger regional response to trade challenges posed by external policies. Both nations reaffirmed their dedication to fostering economic growth and maintaining stable industrial and supply chains.
