Kuala lumpur: The 25 percent tariff imposed by the United States is a decision made by President Donald Trump and not the result of negotiations, said Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. Tengku Zafrul stated that US representatives have yet to respond to queries regarding the tariff imposed on Malaysia.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the US had previously announced in April that Malaysia and Japan would face a 24 percent “reciprocal tariff.” However, the sudden increase to 25 percent has raised questions, similar to Japan’s situation, which saw an unexplained one percent hike. Tengku Zafrul addressed these concerns at a special press conference focused on Malaysia’s stance and follow-up actions related to the US tariff announcement.

Tengku Zafrul assured that negotiations between Malaysia and the US are ongoing and should not be seen as a failure even as the tariff implementation date of August 1 approaches. He emphasized the importance of continuing engagement, noting that Malaysia and other nations remain committed to multilateralism and a rules-based trading system, with the World Trade Organization at its core.

Among the countries facing the 25 percent tariff are Japan, South Korea, Tunisia, and Kazakhstan. Additionally, President Trump announced an extra 10 percent tariff on all BRICS member countries, but Tengku Zafrul noted there have been no further developments on this issue so far.

In response to queries about the economic outlook and tariff impacts, Tengku Zafrul mentioned that Bank Negara Malaysia is currently assessing the tariff’s effects. While the official economic outlook remains unchanged for now, he indicated that details concerning economic growth forecasts will be forthcoming from the central bank, which is also awaiting the outcome of ongoing negotiations.