Economy

31 October 2025
Spotlight article image
ASEAN leaders welcome East Timor's accession to the group in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 26, some 14 years after the nation of 1.4 million people submitted its application, aiming to use membership to open up trading opportunities.
Policy Asia

Dream or mirage? East Timor starts life in ASEAN as trade clouds gather

Infrastructure, law, jobs concerns remain; diversification urged as oil fund drains

31 October 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures to Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a meeting on the sidelines of ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 26.
Trump tariffs

Trump's Malaysia, Cambodia deals link tariff cuts to political loyalty

US pushes Southeast Asian partners to follow Entity List, shipbuilding measures

30 October 2025
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, far left, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, far right, witness the signing of the upgraded ASEAN-China Free Trade Area in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 28.
International relations

China deepens ties with ASEAN ahead of Xi-Trump talks

Beijing signs enhanced trade deal with bloc at Kuala Lumpur summit

28 October 2025
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks at the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 26.
Trade

ASEAN Summit talks spotlight economic integration amid trade worries

Bloc upgrades intraregional rules while 15-country RCEP looks to add new members

27 October 2025
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to journalists in Kuala Lumpur after talks with China on Oct. 26. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Trade war

US and China have 'framework' for Trump-Xi talks, Bessent says

Treasury secretary sees one-year delay in rare earth export controls

27 October 2025
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, top right, delivers a virtual speech to the ASEAN-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 26.
International relations

Malaysia's Anwar says 'real progress' made in ASEAN-India trade deal review

With Modi attending summit virtually, experts see year-end deadline as likely to be missed

27 October 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump, center, and ASEAN leaders pose for a photo during the ASEAN-U.S. Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 26. 
International relations

Trump to ASEAN leaders: US to remain strong partner for 'many generations'

US president also agrees to rare earth deal with Malaysia amid China export curbs

26 October 2025
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng arrives for trade talks with the U.S. in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 25.
Trade war

US and China start high-stakes trade talks in Malaysia

Rush to defuse rare-earth, other tensions comes days before likely Trump-Xi meeting

25 October 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event at the White House on Oct. 16. (Reuters)
International relations

Trump's ASEAN Summit attendance raises stakes for trade, security talks

5 key data points that explain significance of Oct. 26-28 event in Kuala Lumpur

22 October 2025
People pose with the ASEAN logo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 8. The main summit begins on Oct. 26.
Your Week in Asia

ASEAN Summit, China's Fourth Plenum, Japan's PM vote

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

19 October 2025
Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim holds the 2026 national budget document at the Finance Ministry building as he departs for Parliament to table the budget Oct. 10.
Economy

Malaysia plans record spending in 2026 despite subsidy cuts

Country seeks to balance economic growth, fiscal discipline in draft budget

10 October 2025
A worker inspects newly made gloves at Top Glove factory in Shah Alam, Malaysia. 
Companies

Top Glove sets 'clear focus' on US as tariffs hit China rivals

Malaysian manufacturer logs 1st profit in 3 years on high demand, lower costs

9 October 2025
Apurva Sanghi, the World Bank's lead economist in Malaysia, speaks during a briefing on Oct. 7. Inadequate amounts of R&D and innovation are conspiring against Malaysia's future, the bank says. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Economy

Malaysia 'more vulnerable' than peers to US risks, World Bank warns

Country's GDP projected to grow 4.1% in 2025 and 2026, slower than 5.1% in 2024

7 October 2025
Malaysian Economy Minister Amir Hamzah, center, says a strategic partnerships with Mizuho Bank will reinforce the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone's role in driving sustainable and inclusive development, pictured on Oct. 1. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Finance

Asian banks race to join Malaysia's economic zone initiative

Mizuho follows UOB and others in backing companies investing in Johor

7 October 2025
Helene Budliger Artieda, Switzerland’s state secretary for economic affairs, speaks to Nikkei Asia in Kuala Lumpur on Sept. 26. (Photo by Ahmad Mustakim)
Interview

Swiss trade chief eyes deeper ASEAN push after Malaysia deal

European nation's innovation and bloc's scale create powerful synergy, Budliger Artieda says

6 October 2025
The Johor-Singapore Causeway with a traffic jam heading from the Malaysian state of Johor in 2020.
Transportation

Malaysia-Singapore economic zone spurs call for convenient transportation

Cross-border travelers frustrated by lack of direct links fueling demand for illegal shuttles

5 October 2025
Workers at a wooden furniture factory in Muar, Johor State, Malaysia. The industry has been plunged into uncertainty this week after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed heavy tariffs on the sector.
Trump tariffs

Asia's wooden furniture industry feels brunt of new US tariffs

Fresh levies unsettle manufacturers in sector with already tight margins

3 October 2025
Economic ministers from ASEAN member countries join hands during a group photo session of their meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Sept. 23.
Economy

ASEAN deepens internal, external ties to weather US tariff headwinds

Intra-region trade and China deal: Takeaways from the bloc's economic chief meetings

26 September 2025
Economic ministers from ASEAN member countries pose for a photo during their meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Sept. 23. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Economy

ASEAN explores cooperation with CPTPP amid trade uncertainties

Two economic blocs to hold talks in November, Malaysian minister says

23 September 2025
Traffic in Kuala Lumpur's business district: Under the fuel new scheme, Malaysian citizens will be entitled to 300 liters per month at the subsidized price, with exemptions for ride-hailing drivers
Economy

Malaysia's subsidy reform raises fuel prices for foreigners

Prime Minister Anwar takes 'bold step' to free up government's fiscal space

22 September 2025
People play games at the Tokyo Game Show in Chiba prefecture on Sept. 26, 2024. This year's edition will feature over 1,100 exhibitors -- the largest number ever. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Your Week in Asia

LDP presidential race, ASEAN economy meeting, Tokyo Game Show

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

21 September 2025
At its previous policy review, in July, Bank Negara Malaysia cut rates for the first time in five years.
Markets

Malaysia maintains key policy rate amid steady growth, soft inflation

Central bank's widely expected pause comes after first rate cut in five years

4 September 2025
Hair dryers and other gadgets from Panasonic are displayed at a store in Bangkok. Southeast Asia's growing middle class is increasingly splashing out on higher-end beauty products. (Photos by Koki Izumi)
Electronics

Panasonic bets on high-end hair dryers to heat up Southeast Asian sales

Electronics giant targets region's expanding middle class with premium devices

24 August 2025
Stream article image
Podcast: News Roundup

China's snooker craze and US food chains scramble in Southeast Asia

Tune in to Nikkei Asia's podcast, bringing the region's key news to global listeners

22 August 2025
Ships crowd in waters off Singapore, where piracy and armed robbery have surged this year. (Photo by Fumika Sato)
Crime

Piracy and armed robbery quadruples in Strait of Malacca region

Congestion slows ships as Mideast tensions push more traffic through Southeast Asia chokepoint

20 August 2025
A fishmonger holds a basket of fish at a wet market in Kuala Lumpur.
Economy

Malaysia expects 'challenging' economy after flat Q2 GDP growth

Central bank downgrades full-year forecast to 4.0-4.8% as U.S. tariffs loom

15 August 2025
The tariff deal with the U.S. demonstrates the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries, says Malaysian Trade Minister Zafrul Aziz. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Trump tariffs

Malaysia seals 'win-win' deal, slashing tariffs on 98% of US goods

Trade minister sees 19% reciprocal rate as 'fair,' with details to be finalized

2 August 2025
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim presents the 13th Malaysia Plan, a five-year development strategy, in parliament on July 31. (Photo from Anwar Ibrahim Facebook page) 
Economy

Malaysia's Anwar unveils $144bn plan to spur economy and growth

5-year strategy targets top-30 global ranking and social equity

31 July 2025
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim tells parliament on July 31 that he expects U.S. President Donald Trump to announce Malaysia's "reciprocal" tariff rate the following day.
Trump tariffs

Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia set to strike last-minute US tariff deals

Trump expected to announce Malaysian and Thai rates on Friday

31 July 2025