China’s Ministry of Finance introduced new restrictions on government procurement of European Union-made medical devices valued at over ¥45 million (approximately $6.3 million). The move is a direct countermeasure to the EU’s recent decision to exclude Chinese companies from participating in major public tenders for medical equipment. The new regulation, which took effect on Sunday, also restricts imports of medical devices from non-EU countries if over 50% of the components used in those products are sourced from the European Union. However, the Finance Ministry clarified that medical devices manufactured by European companies within China, as well as those produced by…

Thailand presented a new proposal to the United States on Sunday and expressed its willingness to make further adjustments if tariff negotiations fail to reach an agreement, according to Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira. On Monday, Pichai Chunhavajira shared the latest developments in tariff discussions with the United States while addressing reporters at Government House in Bangkok. He noted that the new proposal builds upon the foundational framework that Thailand had submitted earlier. Pichai stressed that talks were confined to tariffs and product list negotiations. He further stated that, at this point, only a limited number of countries had successfully concluded…

Malaysia declared on Saturday that it has imposed provisional anti-dumping tariffs, ranging from 3.86% to 57.90%, on selected iron and steel imports from China, South Korea, and Vietnam. According to a statement from the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Provisional duties on imports of galvanized iron and steel coils or sheets have been imposed following a preliminary finding in an anti-dumping investigation that began on February 6. The preliminary determination was made under Section 23 of the Countervailing and Anti-Dumping Duties Act 1993. The investigation was initiated following a petition by CSC Steel Sdn Bhd, representing Malaysia’s domestic iron…

AirAsia has entered into a purchase agreement valued at $12.25 billion (RM51.72 billion) for a fleet of long-range Airbus A321XLR aircraft, with deliveries scheduled by 2028, according to Capital A Berhad CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, as reported by Bernama. Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stated that AirAsia’s newly signed deal with Airbus for A321XLR aircraft will elevate the airline’s ability to operate more efficiently across short- and medium-haul routes, reinforcing its overall fleet capability and strategic network growth. The deal follows Anwar’s two-day official visit to France, during which Malaysia and France strengthened cooperation in key areas…

The European Union has introduced new import quotas for Ukrainian wheat and sugar imports, which will reduce shipments by 70-80% to protect EU farmers from market disruptions. The decision follows protests by EU farmers over a surge in agricultural imports from Ukraine since trade restrictions were relaxed in 2022. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Union has suspended duties and quotas to aid Ukrainian food exports. However, the influx of Ukrainian cereals, sugar, and poultry has raised alarm among EU farmers struggling with rising production expenses and stricter environmental rules. Under the updated trade deal, the European…

India’s Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), operating under the Ministry of Commerce, has launched an anti-dumping investigation into multi-layer paperboard imports from Indonesia in response to concerns raised by domestic manufacturers, as reported by PTI. The Indian Paper Manufacturer Association, representing local producers, has submitted a formal request to the DGTR to initiate an anti-dumping investigation into the import of ‘Virgin Multi-layer Paperboard’ from Indonesia. The association claims that the domestic industry is struggling because of the low-priced imported goods. Virgin multi-layer paperboard is widely used in packaging applications across sectors like pharmaceuticals, FMCG, food and beverages, electronics, premium…

Indonesia plans to finalize a $34 billion agreement with business partners next week to boost imports from the United States. The initiative is part of a broader effort to secure a trade deal with Washington before the July 9 deadline. On Thursday, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that a memorandum of understanding, scheduled for signing on July 7, will allocate $34 billion toward fresh investments and acquisitions by Indonesia in the United States. The proposal includes substantial acquisitions of energy and agricultural goods, along with investment initiatives linked to Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Danantara. “Earlier, we discussed…

The Trump administration has removed export restrictions on chip design software to China, signaling a step toward easing tensions between Washington and Beijing under a trade deal. Following the decision, three major U.S. chip design software companies—Synopsys, Cadence, and Siemens confirmed that they received a notice from the U.S. Commerce Department stating that the export restrictions imposed in May have been lifted. The United States halted the sale of semiconductor design software to China in response to Beijing’s move to restrict rare earth exports, an action that reignited tensions between the two nations shortly after a trade truce in Geneva…

President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that the United States has reached a preliminary trade deal with Vietnam, marking the administration’s third major deal ahead of its July 9 deadline for tariff negotiations. “I just made a Trade Deal with Vietnam,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Trump stated that Vietnam will face a 20% tariff on all goods imported into the United States, along with a 40% tariff on items transshipped through Vietnam from other nations. Although these rates are lower than the originally proposed reciprocal tariffs, they represent an increase compared to the reduced rates Vietnam benefited from during…

Malaysia’s government implemented tighter regulations on plastic waste imports on Tuesday. Under the new rules, only shipments from countries that are parties to the Basel Convention — an international treaty regulating hazardous waste — will be allowed. Additionally, all imports must receive approval from Sirim Berhad, an agency operating under the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Under the newly enacted policy, Malaysia has barred several countries from exporting plastic waste to the nation, including the United States, which shipped approximately 35,000 tons in 2024, along with East Timor, Fiji, Haiti, San Marino, and South Sudan. As outlined in a Customs…