{
  "id": 13901020,
  "title": "Miti teliti barangan penyumbang defisit dagangan RM146 bilion dengan China",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/miti-teliti-barangan-penyumbang-defisit-dagangan-rm146-bilion-dengan-13901020",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-12T06:18:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2026/10/12/miti-teliti-barangan-penyumbang-defisit-dagangan-rm146-bilion-dengan-china"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia recorded a trade surplus of RM100 billion with the United States in 2025, but faced a trade deficit of RM146 billion with China. The government is investigating which types of goods contribute to Malaysia's RM146 billion trade deficit with China, particularly to understand how imported products are replacing local production. Finance, Trade and Industry Minister Johari Ghani said Malaysia has been focusing on investigating all products contributing to the large trade deficit with China. \"We want to know why companies that once produced these goods, which are now largely imported from China, are no longer able to do so and why some are shutting down factories.\" Johari expressed regret over Malaysia's tendency to opt for the easy path by importing goods at cheaper prices instead of producing them domestically. He warned that as local producers shut down operations, Malaysia will become increasingly dependent on foreign manufacturers who can then raise prices. \"We need to take very strong steps to protect the economy and reduce dependence on foreign countries,\" he said. Responding to questions about Malaysia's risk of dependence on export markets like the US and China as trade tensions escalate and tariffs increase, Johari said the government wants more domestic companies, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to produce raw materials and semi-finished products that are currently imported by the electrical and electronic (E&E) industry. He stated that greater involvement of local producers in the E&E supply chain can help reduce imports while increasing national trade surplus.",
  "summary": "Johari Ghani berkata kebergantungan kepada barangan import murah menyebabkan sebahagian kilang tempatan ditutup.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Miti teliti barangan penyumbang defisit dagangan RM146 bilion dengan China",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/miti-teliti-barangan-penyumbang-defisit-dagangan-rm146-bilion-dengan",
        "published": "2026-10-12T06:18:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}