Tariffs: Zafrul to lead Malaysian delegation to US

Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz is set to lead Malaysia’s delegation to Washington at end of this month to discuss the tariffs imposed by the United States on Malaysia.

He will be accompanied by Investment, Trade, and Industry Ministry (Miti) deputy secretary-general (trade) Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, as well as other officials from the ministry.

Miti’s representatives at Malaysia’s Embassy in Washington will join the delegation.

Zafrul emphasised that Malaysia remains committed to calm and constructive engagement while continuing to protect national interests amid growing trade tensions resulting from the sweeping tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump on April 2.

“Malaysia’s position, as announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, is that we must remain calm while at the same time engage and understand the issues we feel are unfair to Malaysia.

“We do not want to see an escalation. A trade war will not benefit anyone. That is our opinion. We will continue our communication (efforts). Our group in Washington is already working, we have a meeting in Washington and also a meeting at the World Trade Organization (WTO),” he said to the media.

In all discussions and negotiations, the ministry will ensure that national interests are safeguarded, he added.

When asked if individual member states engaging the US separately contradicts Asean’s call for a single voice, Zafrul stressed the importance of Asean speaking with one voice on issues of mutual concern, noting that the region’s collective economic weight provides significant leverage.

“Asean, as a bloc, is quite sizeable with a combined gross domestic product of close to US$3.8 trillion (US$1=RM4.48), making us the fifth-largest economic bloc globally. In areas of common interest, it is important that we work together and speak as one,” he said.

However, each Asean country also has a different level of economic development and its own trade dynamics. “If you look at the trade deficit of different countries in Asean, it is due to different reasons. But what is important is that we must all stick together on the principles.

“I think Asean must continue to fight on the belief that free trade and the principle of multilateralism are principles that have brought Asean to where it is today. These principles have not only driven economic growth but have also provided the region with stability and prosperity,” he said.

Asean’s Indochina member states were the hardest hit by the tariffs, with Cambodia facing combined baseline and retaliatory duties totalling 49 percent, followed by Laos (48 percent), Vietnam (46 percent), and Myanmar (44 percent).

Thailand was subjected to tariffs of 36 percent, Indonesia 32 percent, Brunei and Malaysia both 24 percent, the Philippines 17 percent, while Singapore faced a baseline tariff of 10 percent.

It was reported that Trump and Vietnamese President To Lam agreed to discuss a deal to remove tariffs through a phone call on April 4.

The 46 percent US tariffs would apply to imports from Vietnam from tomorrow (April 9).

- Bernama

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