Ringgit opens slightly higher vs USD as Trump tariff talks intensify

THE ringgit traded marginally higher against the US dollar at the opening amidst intensifying market talks on the impact of the United States’ (US) tariff on the global economy, said Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid.

At 8 am, the ringgit stood at 4.4275/4335 against the greenback, up from yesterday’s close of 4.4280/4315. 

“The US dollar-ringgit pair would be languishing around RM4.42-RM4.44 as traders and investors are anxious about the impact of the US tariff on the global economy,” he told Bernama when contacted today.

He explained that US President Donald Trump’s tariff is taking the center stage again following his latest move to impose a 25 per cent tariff on automotive imports to the US.

“Such a measure is likely to result in thousands of US dollar increase in prices for vehicles sold in the US, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Canada and Germany which are the major sources of imports for the US automotive sector,” he added.

In the latest news update this morning, Trump said he would be willing to reduce tariffs to get a deal done with TikTok's Chinese parent, ByteDance, to sell the short video app used by 170 million Americans.

ByteDance has an April 5 deadline to find a non-Chinese buyer for TikTok or face a US ban on national security grounds.

Meanwhile, the ringgit was traded higher against a basket of major currencies.  

Bernama cited that the currency appreciated against the euro to 4.7560/7625 from yesterday’s closing of 4.7805/7842, went up against the British pound to 5.7013/7090 from 5.7161/7206 on Wednesday, and rose against the Japanese yen to 2.9428/9470 from 2.9498/9524 previously. 

At the same time, the local note was traded mixed against ASEAN currencies.

It strengthened against the Thai baht to 13.0102/0359 from 13.0277/0453 on Wednesday, advanced against the Singapore dollar to 3.3009/3056 from 3.3104/3133 yesterday and inched up against the Indonesian rupiah to 266.8/267.4 as compared with 266.9/267.2 previously.

However, it was almost unchanged against the Philippines’ peso at 7.67/7.69 from 7.67/7.68 at the close yesterday. – March 27, 2025