Reference News Network, October 30 report: The U.S. Foreign Policy website published an article titled "ASEAN and China Upgrade Free Trade Agreement" on October 28, authored by Sebastian Strangio. The article is translated as follows:

ASEAN and China signed an upgraded version of the free trade agreement, expanding its scope to cover areas such as supply chain connectivity, digital economy, and green economy.

The China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 upgrade protocol was signed in Kuala Lumpur on the 28th.

Since its full completion in 2010, the China-ASEAN FTA has significantly increased trade between ASEAN and China. According to Chinese data, bilateral trade has grown more than fivefold, from $192.5 billion in 2008 to $982 billion in 2024. The Ministry of Commerce of China stated that the China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 upgrade covers nine areas, including the digital economy, green economy, and supply chain connectivity.

According to Malaysian media reports, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar, the current chair of ASEAN, said at the ASEAN meeting on the 26th that the China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 upgrade protocol is a key "milestone," which will "open a new chapter in the strategic partnership between ASEAN and China, and enhance the economic resilience of the region."

Although the negotiations for the China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 had started before Trump announced the imposition of tariffs, the significance of this agreement became more prominent after Trump imposed tariffs on Washington's main trading partners.

On the day before the signing of the upgrade protocol, Chinese Premier Li Qiang called on Asian leaders to uphold open cooperation. At the ASEAN plus China, Japan, and South Korea leaders' meeting on the 27th, Premier Li Qiang urged all participants to "jointly safeguard free trade and multilateral trade systems, oppose all forms of protectionism, and continuously advance the process of regional economic integration."

Since Trump announced "reciprocal tariffs" in April, China has consistently positioned itself as an advocate of free and open international trade, and has expanded trade and investment relations based on this. Beijing's position has been warmly welcomed in Southeast Asia. This region suffered heavy losses when Trump announced tariff measures.

Afterward, most Southeast Asian governments successfully reduced tariff rates through negotiations. This experience prompted China, ASEAN, and ASEAN member states to strengthen their connections with other trading partners to cope with the uncertainty of future U.S. policies. In May this year, Anwar chaired the first summit between ASEAN, China, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with economic issues being the top priority.

The issue of U.S. tariffs overshadowed this week's 47th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur. Trump witnessed the signing of reciprocal trade agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia. Although exemption clauses were retained, the agreements signed with Cambodia and Malaysia did not lower the U.S. import tariffs set by the Trump administration in August.

In this context, the signing of the China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 upgrade protocol is a timely signal: if the United States decides to abandon its formerly advocated principles of free trade, like-minded Asian countries will continue to establish and expand their own trade mechanisms. (Translated by Zhang Lin)

The China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 upgrade protocol was signed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on October 28. (Xinhua)

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7566854653640573474/

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