KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — The government will continue negotiations with the United States following the imposition of a 25 per cent retaliatory tariff on Malaysian exports.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that during negotiations, Malaysia will present its arguments to the US before the rate is finalised in August.
“We have sent teams to negotiate and explained the position that ours is a trading nation, and therefore, (the tariff) would impact the economy of this country and that of the region negatively. Of course, we must maintain our relationship with the US, but we will also defend our position that Malaysia is a trading nation, so we will request that the tariff rate be reconsidered,” he told reporters today.
Anwar was speaking after officiating the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today.
He said he would raise the issue of tariffs during a meeting with US State Secretary Marco Rubio tomorrow. Rubio visits Malaysia this week to attend high-level regional meetings and bilateral engagement sessions, in his first trip to Asia since taking office earlier this year.
The US announced it will impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Malaysian products exported to the US, effective August 1, separate from sector-specific tariffs. This rate is one percentage point higher than the one announced in April.
In a letter to Anwar uploaded on Truth Social on Monday, US President Donald Trump said the 25 per cent figure is still far lower than what is required to eliminate the trade deficit imbalance the US experiences with Malaysia.
— Bernama
