Kuala lumpur: The ringgit ended lower on Wednesday against the American dollar amid volatile currency markets as concerns over US tariffs resurfaced. At 6 pm, the local currency depreciated to 3.9955/9990 against the greenback from last Friday's close of 3.9625/9670.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr. Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid stated that the US Trade Representative (USTR), in its latest press statement, has identified the policies and practices of 60 economies that would face an increase in tariffs in relation to elements of forced labour. This development suggests that trade protectionist policies will continue to shape the global economy, potentially resulting in a higher cost of doing business for US companies and possibly leading to further reconfiguration of the global supply chain.

The ringgit also traded lower against a basket of major currencies. It eased against the British pound to 5.3727/3775 from 5.3165/3225, slid against the euro to 4.6400/6440 from 4.6127/6180, and dipped versus the Japanese yen to 2.5005/5027 from 2.4874/4904 at last Friday's close.

The local currency showed a similar weakening trend against regional peers. It retreated versus the Singapore dollar to 3.1164/1193 from 3.1010/1048 and eased marginally against the Thai baht to 12.1825/1988 from 12.1732/1926 previously. Additionally, it fell against the Indonesian rupiah to 222.3/222.7 compared to 221.6/221.9, and decreased against the Philippine peso to 6.47/6.48 from 6.43/6.44 at last Friday's close.