European bloc turns to Southeast Asia in bid to hedge protectionism

KUALA LUMPUR -- A European bloc comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland is doubling down on Malaysia and other Southeast Asian economies as strategic partners, seeking to hedge against resurgent U.S. protectionism under President Donald Trump.

This month, the four-member European Free Trade Association (EFTA) concluded an economic partnership agreement with Malaysia -- a deal more than a decade in the making -- accelerating cooperation in areas like goods trade, investment and government procurement.