Johari: A joint caucus involving key stakeholders, including the government and opposition, will be held to discuss the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) before its final ratification. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani announced that the government is committed to conducting these discussions to address any concerns, particularly those related to national sovereignty.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Johari emphasized the necessity of open and collective discussions at the parliamentary level to ensure the country's interests are safeguarded. He was responding to a query from Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut) regarding Malaysia's stance on the implementation and commitment to the ART compared to Southeast Asian countries that have not yet signed or ratified the agreement.

Johari highlighted that some provisions in the agreement currently lack clear definitions, which could lead to misunderstandings concerning national sovereignty. He stated that the ratification process would provide an opportunity to clarify these provisions to prevent misinterpretation or misuse. He further clarified that the agreement is primarily economic and trade-focused and is not meant to be political, particularly in ensuring no discrimination against existing investors.

He assured that any final decision regarding the agreement would be made only after comprehensive consultations, including the planned caucus discussions. Previously, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim informed the Dewan Rakyat that the Malaysia-United States ART, signed on October 26, 2025, during the 47th ASEAN Summit, has yet to be enforced. The government remains in the negotiation phase, seeking clear written assurances. Anwar also noted that the implementation of the agreement's provisions has not occurred, as there is still room for feedback and no deadline for concluding the negotiations has been set.