KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 — Malaysia seeks to maintain good ties with the United States (US), said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
“Malaysia has always been a good economic partner to the US. That is why the US has always been among Malaysia's highest foreign investors.
“We provide an environment where US companies are able to prosper. Intel has been in Malaysia since 1971. (Other companies have) been in Malaysia even longer, (some) since Independence,” he said at the Asean Leadership Forum by Centre For Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. on Friday.
Amir made these remarks when asked what positive US-Malaysia economic relations would look like under President Donald Trump’s administration without a global trade war.
“So, what we want is the ability for us to continue with this (positive) relationship. Create a mechanism where both parties will gain in terms of opportunities to prosper within the space, can compete within the space to grow, and to integrate what they have within Malaysia with their global supply chain. That is a great outcome,” he said.
Amir believes that such mutual understanding and approach is doable as both countries have consistently approached the partnership with mutual respect.
“I think it can continue to go down that path, because both parties treat each other with respect. Both parties work to integrate things along the way and work toward a common outcome," he said.
The minister emphasised the importance of focusing on how to make the cake bigger, rather than getting caught up in arguments over how to divide the cake into little bits.
Such an approach would add little value.
Reflecting on the longstanding relationship between Putrajaya and Washington, Amir said their shared history has consistently enabled both sides to come together and make bigger cakes, rather than debating over portions.
On Malaysia’s approach to the 24 per cent reciprocal tariffs, Amir said Malaysia has already started its discussions with the US on it.
“The good thing is, we have had our first conversation and the conversation was received well enough. Next is a number of steps that will have to come after that,” he said.
However, Amir acknowledged that a bilateral arrangement takes time.
“To lock up trade agreements, it takes a while — to work through the technicalities — but it starts with the first conversation and first principles, and then continued dialogue to close the gaps.”
On April 24, Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz met with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in Washington, D.C.
In a statement on the meeting, the ministry said Malaysia stands ready to continue collaborating with the US to reach mutually agreeable solutions regarding the reciprocal tariff matter announced by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Malaysia has expressed its openness to negotiating with the US on four key areas: reducing the trade deficit, addressing non-tariff barriers, strengthening technological safeguards and security, and exploring a potential bilateral trade agreement.
— Bernama
