By Anisah Shukry
(Bloomberg) — Malaysia’s trade ministry is reviewing its anti-dumping legislation with plans to submit it to parliament next year, echoing Indonesian concerns that cheap Chinese products could hurt local businesses.
The government supports protecting small and medium-sized enterprises from the effects of unfair trade resulting from the large influx of cheap imported goods from countries such as China, Deputy Trade Minister Liew Chin Tong said in parliament on Wednesday.
Between 2015 and 2023, the ministry has enforced nine anti-dumping measures against Chinese exporters to protect local industry, Liew said in response to questions from Senator Low Kian Chuan, chairman of the Association of Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Malaysia.
The measure is similar to recent steps by Indonesia’s trade ministry, which is targeting a wider range of goods to regulate the rise in imports – including from China – that is threatening domestic industry.
Malaysia’s trade ministry is open to working with the association to study the impact of Chinese products on local businesses, Liew added. But he was quick to add that the government is not targeting any individual countries, indicating the delicate balancing act Malaysia must perform to attract trade while ensuring domestic producers remain competitive.
Beijing is Kuala Lumpur’s largest trading partner and “China-Malaysia cooperation could benefit local entrepreneurs through supply chain and business opportunities,” Liew said. Trade between the two countries rose 5.9% to 151 billion ringgit ($29.8 billion) between January and April this year compared to the same period in 2023, he added.
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