Kuala Lumpur:Eight out of nine of Malaysia's current anti-dumping measures are focused on the iron and steel sector, which often experiences pressure from dumped imports of intermediate goods.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) has stated that these measures cover products such as steel wire and galvanized iron or steel sheets. The remaining measure pertains to plastic and resin products.

These products are generally used as intermediate inputs in production rather than as finished products or consumer goods sold directly to consumers. To protect domestic industries from unfair trade practices, the government consistently monitors import dumping trends and prices.

MITI also noted that trade remedies like anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties, or safeguard measures could be applied if investigations prove that injury has occurred or there has been an import surge, in line with domestic legal criteria and World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.

Additionally, the government has enhanced the legal framework through the Countervailing and Anti-Dumping Duties (Amendment) Act 2025, while reviewing the Countervailing and Anti-Dumping Duties Regulations 1994 to ensure the continued relevance and effectiveness of trade remedy instruments.

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

Meanwhile, Malaysia's total imports rose 22.4 percent to RM1.158 trillion from January to August 2026. Imports from China accounted for RM308.12 billion, representing a 41.2 percent increase from the same period last year, driven mainly by intermediate and capital goods which rose 15.6 percent, compared to a 3.7 percent increase in consumer goods.

MITI has indicated that these statistics require further assessment to determine whether the increase in imports is due to unfair trade practices harming domestic producers. This response was part of MITI's reply to a query from Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman (PN-Bachok) regarding the impact of trade diversion and dumped imports following higher global tariffs.