KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will send officials to Washington by the end of April to begin dialogue with the United States over the recently imposed 24 per cent reciprocal tariffs, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced today.
Minister of Finance II, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, later confirmed that the Malaysian delegation would depart for the US by month-end.
“This is part of our soft diplomacy of quiet engagement. We will be dispatching our officials to Washington to begin the process of dialogue. There may be limited room to revisit the underlying intent, but there is still scope for adjusting the policy’s implementation,” said Anwar during his keynote address at the ASEAN Investment Conference 2025 titled “ASEAN 2025: Forging a Resilient and Inclusive Future.”
“In the meantime, Malaysia will adapt, as we always have. Winds may shift, but we do not drift. Our trade diversification strategy is already gathering pace.”
While affirming Malaysia’s commitment to remaining a steadfast trade partner to the US, Anwar stressed that the government will also take all necessary steps to safeguard the nation’s economic interests.
“This includes engaging proactively with the US to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome, while at the same time diversifying and strengthening ties with other major trade markets across the European Union (EU), Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.”
Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, said that trade between Malaysia and the US has long been a model of mutual benefit.
“Our exports support not only growth here but also high-quality jobs across the United States. This commercial relationship has served both countries well, but these new measures may end up harming both sides.”
Echoing the Prime Minister’s sentiments, Amir Hamzah emphasised the need for a civil and constructive discussion with the US to better understand the rationale behind the tariffs.
When asked if Malaysia was panicking in response to the situation, he replied: “No. We are chill.”
He added that while the US’ move was unexpected, Malaysia is taking a measured and prudent approach rather than reacting hastily.
“Therefore, we will go to the US for an amicable discussion, to gain a deeper understanding of this issue, and to explore ways to reach a better outcome than the current situation.
“For now, we should not panic or act in haste. We will do things the right way,” he said after the ministerial dialogue session on “ASEAN Macro Structural Policies: Reform Versus Expansionary Measures.”
— BERNAMA
