Kuala lumpur: The Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) between Malaysia and the United States will only be activated following the exchange of written notices as stipulated in Article 7.2 of the ART.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) stated that the exchange of written notices is necessary to confirm the completion of all internal ratification processes and readiness of both countries to implement the ART.

"Once the notification exchange process is complete, the ART will come into effect within 60 days or on another date mutually agreed upon by both parties," MITI clarified in a response on the parliament website to a query from Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (PN-Pagoh). He sought clarification on why the ART with the US cannot be withdrawn and expressed concerns over certain clauses perceived as unfair.

On January 20, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim noted that although the ART was signed on October 26, 2025, during the 47th ASEAN Summit, its implementation has been delayed as negotiations continue and the government seeks clear written assurances.

In line with this, MITI confirmed that the government is conducting a thorough assessment of the ART clauses to ensure that the implementation of commitments aligns with the Federal Constitution, national development policies, domestic legislation, and Malaysia's international commitments, including free trade agreements.