FOUR government backbenchers have called on the Madani administration to immediately suspend the ratification of the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) with the United States, following a ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States that tariffs imposed by Donald Trump were unlawful.
In a joint press statement issued on Monday, 23 February 2026, the Members of Parliament said the court’s decision fundamentally undermined the legal basis of the bilateral trade arrangement and warranted urgent reconsideration by Putrajaya.
“We, the undersigned Members of Parliament, would like to advise our Madani Government on the following points relating to the US Supreme Court ruling last Friday that the tariffs imposed by President Trump were in fact unlawful,” the statement read.
They urged the government to “fully disclose to Members of Parliament what are the ratification steps and processes that the Government intends to undertake regarding the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) between Malaysia and the United States”.
The MPs went further in asserting that the agreement’s legal standing was now in doubt.
“Immediately suspend all ratification steps and processes of the ART, in view of the US Supreme Court ruling that all the tariffs were unlawful; thus, the ART is unlawful ab initio.
“We further advise that the suspension of all ratification steps and processes until the tariffs are in accordance with the US rule of law.”
They also pressed for a formal legal assessment from the Attorney General’s Office.
“Immediately instruct the Attorney General’s Office to issue a legal opinion on the legality of the ART in view of the US Supreme Court ruling and table the same legal opinion to Members of Parliament.”
The statement highlighted concerns over the wider financial and policy implications of fresh US tariff measures, including a newly announced 15 per cent global tariff regime.
“Keep Members of Parliament informed on the cost-benefit implications of the newly announced 15% Trump global tariffs, noting that these tariffs are only applicable for a period of 150 days and will likely be subjected to another trial in the US Supreme Court.
“Keep Members of Parliament informed of all developments regarding the potential billions of dollars of tariff refunds, and take steps to ensure that any Malaysian exporters that have been asked to shoulder and pay a portion of the tariffs, are equally refunded.”
With the Prime Minister expected to visit Washington in the coming months, the lawmakers cautioned against entering into further binding commitments.
“Noting that the Prime Minister intends to visit President Trump in Washington within the next few months, we wish to advise the Prime Minister to exercise greater caution and not to commit to or sign any further trade agreements or terms that may detriment our national interests and sovereignty.”
They also reiterated their longstanding call for greater scrutiny of the trade pact’s origins.
“We also reiterate our stance that an independent Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the ART should be commissioned as soon as possible to investigate how the ART was negotiated and signed.”
The statement was signed by Wong Chen, Member of Parliament for Subang; Datuk Seri Mohd Rafizi Ramli, Member of Parliament for Pandan; Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Member of Parliament for Setiawangsa; and Lee Chean Chung, Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya. - February 23, 2026
