People walk through plastic waste piled outside an illegal recycling factory in Jenjarom in Kuala Langat district, Malaysia. (Photo: Reuters)
Hanoi (VNA) – Malaysia is making plans to ship Canadiantrash back after denouncing Canada’s “irresponsible” export of plastic waste.
With the act, it is the second Asian nation after the Philippines to do so.
𓆉 On May 27, Malaysian officials opened a shipping container filledwith plastic bags from major Canadian chains, as well as product packagingstamped with "Made in Canada" labels from recognizable brands.
Authorities did not identify which company exported the plasticfrom Canada. But they said it will be returned to that exporter after itwas deemed to be too contaminated and of insufficient value for legitimaterecyclers in Malaysia to take it in.
Malaysian Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin said he hopesCanadians will be angry when they know the case as it’s “household garbage”.
⭕ He said Malaysia and many developing countries have become newtargets after China banned the import of plastic waste for recycling in 2017.
On May 26, thePhilippines banned all government trips to Canada, highlighting the SoutheastAsian country’s diminished interaction with Canada in the face of a garbageissue.
In 2013 and 2014, aCanadian company sent to the Philippines 103 containers labeled as plastics forrecycling. However, an inspection of the Philippines Bureau of Customs foundthat the containers were filled with different types of waste, includinghousehold trash, diapers, newspapers and plastic bottles.
🦋 Earlier this month,Manila asked Ottawa to take back the garbage before May 15, but the Canadiangovernment missed the deadline, making the Philippines take tough diplomaticactions.-VNA
Many experts have raised concerns about the import of thousands of containers of plastic, and proposed raising fees for importing plastic waste to Vietnam and then using it as materials.
The Thai Cabinet has approved a roadmap to tackle plastic waste in the years 2018-2030 to reduce the use of plastic and end the use of certain types of plastic because of its increasing harm to the environment.
An ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) workshop on the management of marine plastic pollution opened in Nha Trang, in the central province of Khanh Hoa, on May 13.
A seminar was held by the Vietnam Institute of Seas and Islands under the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands (VASI) on May 24 to share experience in managing and proposing contents for the national action plan on ocean plastic waste management to 2030.
Malaysia will send 3,000 tonnes of plastic waste back to the countries it originated from, said Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment, and Climate Change Yeo Bee Yin.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
People walk through plastic waste piled outside an illegal recycling factory in Jenjarom in Kuala Langat district, Malaysia. (Photo: Reuters) 
