Business Daily Thailand and Malaysia: Growth under pressure
Jun 16, 2025
Explore how Thailand and Malaysia are grappling with the economic fallout of U.S. tariffs. Delve into the struggles of Thai rubber farmers facing fluctuating prices and trade impacts on their livelihoods. Discover the vibrant yet financially strained atmosphere of Chinatown amidst rising living costs. Hear how Malaysian businesses are navigating fierce competition from Chinese firms and the geopolitical tensions affecting their industries. The conversation even touches on innovative technologies, bringing a lighthearted note to serious trade issues.
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Rubber Farmer's Trade Worries
- Duang Chai has tended her rubber plantation in eastern Thailand for 28 years, seeing it as a good, long-term investment.
- She worries about falling rubber prices due to US trade policies, but has no alternative livelihood options.
Foreign Workers Value Factory Jobs
- Kla, a Myanmar native, has worked four years in a Malaysian rubber factory and appreciates the steady, relatively well-paid job.
- The factory work is sought after by others despite the language and nationality differences among workers.
Struggles of Urban Workers
- Joanne Kwan describes the difficulty of making ends meet in Kuala Lumpur despite steady work and commissions.
- She notes long hours and competition for bonuses as normal but exhausting in the local corporate culture.