PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said talks between Malaysia and the United States regarding Washington’s unilateral tariff measures have proceeded positively, following high-level meetings held earlier this week.
Speaking at the 38th Asia-Pacific Roundtable in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar said he had received encouraging updates from Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, both currently in Washington DC to lead the talks.
“This morning, I received a message from the Miti Minister and the Finance Minister II, that the meetings with the US Secretary of Commerce have been excellent,” he said.
“We always emphasised the need to secure what is fair for Malaysians and always represent the case for ASEAN.”
Anwar added that he had encouraged his ASEAN counterparts to adopt a similar approach, presenting strong bilateral positions while reinforcing the need for ASEAN to act as a cohesive force.
Tengku Zafrul and Amir arrived in Washington DC on 18 June to continue discussions over US-imposed tariffs on Malaysian exports, which could reach as high as 24% if an agreement is not reached before a 90-day pause expires on 8 July.
Tengku Zafrul is also scheduled to meet US trade representative Jamieson Greer, as well as investors and business groups, including the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce.
Anwar acknowledged that the tariffs posed a serious concern to Malaysia, particularly because over 60% of its semiconductor exports are destined for the US market.
“So, you can imagine the concern of the government and Malaysians to secure a fair resolution to this issue,” he said.
The Prime Minister reiterated Malaysia’s stance that international trade should be governed by transparent and predictable rules, not unilateral or coercive measures.
“Disruptions in trade and the supply chain will leave detrimental effects in business, hampering economic growth,” he warned.
Despite the challenges, Anwar affirmed Malaysia’s commitment to constructive engagement with key global partners.
“Malaysia will continue to engage constructively with the US, China, India and the European Union, in advancing our national and regional interests,” he said.
“Malaysia’s strategy of active non-alignment is a deliberate and principled framework — designed to maximise strategic flexibility, preserve decision-making autonomy and engage all partners on our own terms.” - June 19, 2025
