2018 sees sea change in Malaysia’s approach towards trade pacts

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. -AFP

KUALA LUMPUR: The year 2018 saw a sea change in Malaysia’s political and economic landscapes, with a high-profile trade war and tit-for-tat action between the world’s two largest economies serving as a backdrop to what could be an eventful year for international trade pacts.

Apart from dealing with the game-changing double whammy, the rise of trade protectionism, resurgent nationalistic movements and inward-looking policies also slowly took place globally, even within Asean countries.