Country’s globalisation strategy to help SMEs navigate US tariff challenges


SME Association president Chin Chee Seong.

KUALA LUMPUR: The SME Association of Malaysia is emphasising that Malaysia’s globalisation strategy will aid exporters, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in navigating United States tariff challenges.

The association’s national president, Chin Chee Seong, has urged exporters and SMEs to utilise free trade agreements already secured by Malaysia to reduce trade barriers and facilitate movement to reduce dependency on certain markets.

“We have a very international mindset, which provides us with several advantages. Many of our products are unable to be exported to the United States due to sanctions, such as our furniture. However, we are shifting our focus and targeting markets like Japan and Taiwan instead.

“However, if the government does not help us open more markets like BRICS, which is beneficial, we need their support to showcase our products to them,” he told reporters at the Malaysian SME Resilience & Growth 2025 Conference, here yesterday.

Chin also believes that China will continue to be among Malaysia’s main trading and investment partners, despite potentially facing the highest tariffs imposed by the US under the Trump administration.

He said that the nation has seen more Malaysia-China collaborations in the manufacturing sector, which is a testament to the growing interest in trade and the potential for increased innovation collaboration in the industry.

“Not just Kuala Lumpur, smaller cities in the south of Malaysia can be promoted to become a hub for the Chinese,” he added.

Despite the benefits, he believes that Malaysia will still feel the pinch if the world economy slows due to the tariff war and retaliations, despite SMEs accounting for only 1% of exports. — Bernama

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