Kuala Lumpur:The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) has reported that eight of Malaysia's nine anti-dumping measures are concentrated on the iron and steel sector, targeting products such as steel wire and galvanized iron or steel sheets.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the remaining anti-dumping measure involves plastic and resin products. These measures aim to protect domestic industries from unfair trade practices by monitoring import dumping trends and prices.

MITI stated that trade remedies, including anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties, or safeguard measures, could be imposed if investigations show that injury has occurred or there has been an import surge, following domestic legal criteria and World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. The legal framework has been updated through the Countervailing and Anti-Dumping Duties (Amendment) Act 2025 and a review of the Countervailing and Anti-Dumping Duties Regulations 1994 to ensure the effectiveness of trade remedy instruments.

Since joining the WTO in 1995, Malaysia has imposed 77 anti-dumping measures and three safeguard measures, initiating 38 anti-dumping investigations over the past decade.

Additionally, Malaysia's total imports increased by 22.4 percent to RM1.158 trillion from January to August 2026, with imports from China rising by 41.2 percent to RM308.12 billion. This increase was primarily driven by intermediate and capital goods, which saw a 15.6 percent rise compared to a 3.7 percent increase in consumer goods.

MITI highlighted the need for further assessment to determine if the surge in imports involves unfair trade practices impacting domestic producers. The ministry's response was prompted by an inquiry from Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman (PN-Bachok) concerning the impact of trade diversion and dumped imports due to higher global tariffs, and measures to protect local industries.