In the middle of a trade war with Beijing, Donald Trump does not see the current tour of Xi Jinping in Southeast Asia at all. The Chinese president arrived in Malaysia on Tuesday, after his visit to Vietnam, in order to tighten the links, especially commercial, in the face of the ultra-protectionist policy of the United States.
This tour will also lead him to Cambodia, Beijing trying to organize a coordinated response to the customs duties imposed by the American president, who said that it is a question of finding a way to “enter” the United States.
XI wants “more equitable” global governance
The Chinese leader landed at Kuala Lumpur airport on Tuesday, where he was greeted by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. “We must defend the international system centered on the UN and the international order (…) and promote more fair and more equitable global governance,” said Xi Jinping in an article published Tuesday in the Malaysian newspaper The Star.
On Monday, the Chinese president had arrived in Vietnam, the first stage of his tour intended to present Beijing as a reliable ally against an unpredictable American president, who announced and then for the most part for China – of prohibitive customs surcharges.
Donald Trump estimated to journalists from the White House that the meeting of the two leaders was intended to harm in the United States. “I don’t blame China. I don’t blame Vietnam, “he said. “I see that they meet today (Monday),” added the American president. “It’s a great meeting (…) or how to try to find a way to enter the United States”.
In Hanoi, Xi Jinping denounced protectionism “which does not lead anywhere”. “No winner” can emerge from such a trade conflict, he said. Xi Jinping also indicated that the two countries should “jointly oppose intimidation and maintain the stability of the global free trade system”. During this visit, the two countries signed 45 cooperation agreements, especially on supply chains, AI, joint maritime patrols and railways.
An important area for Chinese exports
Customs duties imposed by the United States on imports from China now reach 145 %, with an exemption from surcharge on high-tech products. Beijing described these “farce” taxes and imposed in retaliation of the 125 % rights on American products.
Our file on China
The South-East Asia square is central for Chinese exports. Last year, the countries of the regional block, the ASEAN, were their first recipients with $ 586.5 billion in total. Among them, Vietnam is distinguished with $ 161.9 billion in goods imported from China, followed by Malaysia (101.5 billion).
