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Trump’s ‘Agreements on Reciprocal Trade’ (ARTs) threaten equitable access to the internet in Global South

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 09/10/2026, 19:30:24 UTC.

Briefings

The U.S. signed reciprocal trade agreements (ARTs) with 10 Global South countries in February 2025, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Indonesia, and Malaysia. These agreements include provisions requiring signatories to avoid Chinese ICT suppliers like Huawei and ZTE, potentially limiting network development. Bangladesh's internet penetration is 53.4%, while Cambodia's school internet access is only 22%. The U.S. has struggled to replace Chinese equipment in its own networks since 2019, with only 12% replaced between 2019-2024. China provides significant infrastructure financing through the Digital Silk Road, creating a complex geopolitical landscape where developing nations face trade and aid dilemmas.

Key points

• The U.S. signed 10 reciprocal trade agreements (ARTs) with Global South countries in February 2025, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
• These agreements include provisions requiring signatories to avoid Chinese ICT suppliers like Huawei and ZTE, potentially limiting network development in low-income nations with high digital divides.

Context and limitations

Evidence covers only the U.S.-signed ARTs and their specific provisions; it does not include data on other countries' internet penetration rates, the full scope of Chinese infrastructure financing, or the complete list of U.S. telecommunications restrictions.

Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 09/10/2026, 19:36:25 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.

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