Morning Brief

As US President Donald Trump wraps up his three-nation tour of Asia, he got nearly $900 billion in investment pledges from Japan and South Korea, in exchange for cutting US tariffs to 15%. Alexis Dudden, Visiting Professor at the National University of Singapore, unpacks who truly benefits from these as well as how they reshape America’s economic and strategic leverage in Asia.

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US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is back in Asia for the second time since May, visiting Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and South Korea in a bid to reinforce Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy amid escalating tensions with China. Thomas Daniel, Director of the Foreign Policy and Security Studies Programme at ISIS Malaysia, analyses the wider implications.

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Malaysia's semiconductors were excluded from the recent deal with the US and currently enjoys a tariff holiday. However how long will this exmption remain and how can Malaysia prepare for this? Questions we pose to Dato’ Seri Wong Siew Hai, President of the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association whilst also getting a 2026 outlook.

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Malaysia’s new digital trade agreement with the United States promises closer cooperation in technology and innovation, but comes with the removal of digital taxes, data localisation bans, and trusted supplier clauses. Farlina Said, Director of the Centre for Technology and Policy at ISIS Malaysia, breaks down what this means for Malaysia.

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Over the weekend, the US and China reached a preliminary consensus on easing some of the trade restrictions each had imposed on the other ahead of Presidents Xi Jin Ping and Donald Trump in South Korea next week. Does this indicate the beginnings of a recovery in trade ties between the two countries? Angeline Tan, Analyst, Institute Of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia gives us her view.

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Yesterday, leaders of countries in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership  (RCEP) gathered in Kuala Lumpur for the first summit since the world’s largest trade pact was signed in 2020. What does this mean for both Malaysia and the region’s economic growth? We ask Professor Dr Ong Kian Ming, Adjunct Professor at Taylor's University and former Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry.

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Bersatu’s leadership turmoil shows no signs of easing, as Indera Mahkota MP Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah and six other division leaders, publicly urged Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to resign as party president. Associate Professor Dr Syaza Shukri, Department Head of Political Science and Madani Studies, International Islamic University Malaysia tells us why this chorus of dissent is getting louder, what it means for internal dynamics and if it still has traction with voters.

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China’s National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays saw a strong rebound in travel and dining, 

hinting at a long-awaited recovery in consumer sentiment after months of cautious spending. But will that trend continue for retail names as we approach the most important day for retail, Singles Day. Catherine Lim, Senior Industry Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence tells us her perspective and which companies will see top line growth and margin expansion.

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A number of trade deals have been signed over the weekend between the US and Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia. China has also indicated willingness to work with ASEAN for China on the success of a 3.0 FTA. For more insights on these trade deals, we speak to Julia Goh, Senior Economist, UOB.

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Was the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord truly a landmark peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, as claimed by U. President Trump, or merely a symbolic gesture to project diplomatic success? We speak to Dr. Greg Raymond, Senior Lecturer, Australian National University for his insights.

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