Malaysia says US trade talks ‘positive’ 

Malaysia sees progress in US trade talks, paving the way for tariff negotiations

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (MNTV) – The Malaysian Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry described the meeting with their American counterparts in Washington last week as “positive”, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said on Wednesday.

Fahmi said its minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz had briefed the Cabinet about the meeting, saying the negotiations were centred around certain sectors — but more bilateral talks are needed.

“Tengku Zafrul said the meeting yielded a positive outcome,” Fahmi said at a press conference here.

“He tabled a report on what to do next and several sectors will be the focus of more negotiations.”

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry announced that it had appointed its deputy secretary-general (trade) Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, one of its most experienced senior civil servants, as Malaysia’s chief negotiator for the upcoming formal tariff negotiations with the US.

Zafrul said the US has also named one of its assistant United States trade representatives (USTR) to lead the talks.

Zafrul said among the key focus areas are reducing tariffs, addressing non-tariff barriers — particularly in agriculture — and Malaysia’s trade surplus with the US, which currently stands at $25 billion.

The US announced higher tariffs on imports from about 60 countries, including on most Malaysian goods at a rate of 24%. 

Subsequently, it granted a 90-day pause on the “reciprocal” tariffs for most countries to allow for trade negotiations.

On April 24, Zafrul led a delegation to meet with the US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington to discuss the tariffs.

The formal negotiations are expected to pave the way for improved trade ties and mutually beneficial agreements between Malaysia and the US.