Comment / US-Malaysia trade deal set to quietly redraw Asia’s supply chain map?

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As Americans debate tariffs and Malaysians debate sovereignty, a quiet clause in a new trade deal may end up redrawing parts of Asia’s logistics landscape, and opening a new front in the long-running US–China trade war.

Malaysia’s Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) with the US, signed alongside a critical-minerals memorandum, looks modest at first glance: Washington caps tariffs on most Malaysian exports at 19%, while Kuala Lumpur promises a welcoming environment for US investment in semiconductors, critical minerals, energy and infrastructure. ...