It’s the second upgrade of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) that was first inked in 2002 - making it then China’s first free trade agreement and ASEAN’s first with a major external partner. It then came into effect in 2010, with negotiations for the first upgrade starting in September 2014 and coming into force since 2019.

Welcome to Foreign Policy ’s Southeast Asia Brief.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Southeast Asia for the ASEAN Summit is expected to spotlight Beijing’s shifting trade and diplomatic priorities in the region. The discussions come as the region navigates rising U.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday urged Asia-Pacific leaders to choose dialogue over coercion and cooperation over confrontation, as he opened the East Asia summit at a time of sharpening rivalry between the United States and China.

ASEAN (in particular Malaysia) were key part of US Trade diversification from China Trade. Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Australia had key deals for the US

World leaders gathered in Malaysia on Monday will discuss ways to strengthen economic and trade ties in the shadow of looming U.S. tariffs after President Donald Trump left a summit of Southeast Asian nations to continue a tour of the region.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday signalled a tentative deal with China just days before Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are set to meet.