The government supports protecting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the effects of unfair trade following the large influx of cheap imported goods from countries including China, deputy investment, trade and industry minister Liew Chin Tong said in Parliament today.

Between 2015 and 2023, the ministry enforced nine anti-dumping measures against Chinese exporters to protect the local industry, Liew said in response to questions from Senator Low Kian Chuan, who heads the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM).

The action is similar to recent moves by Indonesia’s trade ministry, which is looking at a broader range of goods as it seeks to regulate the surge in imports, including from China, that threatens local industries.

The investment, trade and industry ministry is open to working with ACCCIM to study the impact of Chinese products on local businesses, Liew added.

But he was quick to add that the government does not target individual nations, signalling the delicate balancing act Malaysia has to play in attracting trade while ensuring that domestic producers remain competitive.

Beijing is Kuala Lumpur’s largest trading partner, and “cooperation between China and Malaysia could benefit local entrepreneurs through the supply chain and business opportunities”, said Liew.

Trade between the two countries rose 5.9% to RM151 billion (US$29.8 billion) between January and April this year compared to the same period in 2023, he added.