KUALA LUMPUR: Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz will travel to Washington next week to engage with United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer and other US officials to discuss the reciprocal tariffs imposed on Malaysia and other ASEAN countries.
The high-level meetings, scheduled for April 24, aim to convey Malaysia’s position on the ongoing tariff issue. “We will be meeting the USTR as well as other government officials from US President Donald Trump’s administration during my two-day visit,” Zafrul said during a recent media briefing.
He stressed that the mission is not intended to initiate formal negotiations but to hold discussions on how Malaysia can contribute positively to the global supply chain, particularly in the semiconductor and electrical and electronics (E&E) sectors.
“We need to go there to explain how Malaysia, as a neutral country, plays an important role in the semiconductor and E&E sectors. Our goal is to show that Malaysia can support industries in the US rather than posing a threat to them,” he added.
Zafrul will be joined by MITI deputy secretary general (trade) Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, senior ministry officials, and representatives from Malaysia’s Embassy in Washington. The delegation also plans to meet with business chambers, companies, and industry groups to clarify Malaysia’s stance and address misconceptions.
As the current chair of ASEAN, Zafrul will also take the opportunity to present the regional bloc’s unified position. “We believe in a rules-based global trading system and the principles of multilateralism,” he said, adding that ASEAN is not in favour of retaliatory actions and hopes to correct misperceptions around tariff issues.
The visit comes amid heightened trade tensions, with ASEAN nations experiencing varying degrees of impact from the US-imposed tariffs. According to data from the recent special ASEAN Economic Ministers’ meeting, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar have been most affected, with combined tariffs reaching up to 49%. Malaysia and Brunei face a 24% rate, while Singapore sees a 10% baseline tariff.
A 90-day pause on the reciprocal tariffs remains in effect for ASEAN countries, excluding China.
ASEAN ministers, in a joint statement issued after their April 10 meeting, reaffirmed their commitment to constructive dialogue with the US while safeguarding the region’s economic interests.–BERNAMA
