Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that discussions between Malaysia and the United States regarding US unilateral tariffs proceeded without issues.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar, who also serves as Malaysia’s finance minister, received an update on the positive progress from Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, who are currently in the United States. Anwar shared this information during his keynote address at the 38th Asia-Pacific Roundtable: Recalibrating Asia’s Frontiers.
The prime minister emphasized Malaysia’s commitment to using sound reasoning and principles in pursuing fairness and justice. He encouraged ASEAN member states to adopt a similar strategy.
Tengku Zafrul traveled to the United States earlier in the week to discuss US reciprocal tariffs ahead of the July 8 expiry of a temporary 90-day suspension. Malaysia is currently subject to a 24% tariff on selected exports to the US. The trade minister stated that the delegation’s focus is on negotiating better market access and addressing supply chain issues.
Anwar also highlighted the importance of transparent rules and legal predictability in international trade, warning against unilateral or coercive economic measures. He pointed out that disruptions in trade and supply chains could harm businesses and hinder economic growth, negatively affecting efforts to ensure the socioeconomic well-being of the people.
He acknowledged that the US’s imposition of unilateral tariffs poses a significant challenge to Malaysia and the region due to their integration into global supply chains. Anwar reiterated Malaysia’s commitment to engaging constructively with key global players like the United States, China, the European Union, and India, emphasizing the strategy of active non-alignment to maximize strategic flexibility and preserve decision-making autonomy.
Looking forward, Anwar expressed enthusiasm for Malaysia’s collaboration as a partner country of BRICS, highlighting the potential for new partnerships and the renewal of existing ones. He stressed that engaging with BRICS is about agency, autonomy, and trust in sustained cooperation to tackle shared challenges.