KUALA LUMPUR: Officials will be sent to the United States to begin a dialogue on the tariff issue, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic).
“Malaysia’s trade with the United States has long been a model of mutual gain. Our exports support not just growth here but high-quality jobs across the United States,” he said at the Asean Investment Conference (AIC) 2025 here on Tuesday (April 8).
"This commercial relationship has served both countries well, but these measures may end up harming all.
"Yet, we do not believe in megaphone diplomacy. As part of our soft diplomacy of quiet engagement, we will be despatching officials to Washington to begin the dialogue process,” he added.
In the meantime, he said Malaysia would adapt as it always had.
“Winds may shift, but we do not drift. Our trade diversification strategy is already gathering pace,” he said during the conference, a side event of the 12th Asean Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting.
“ While we intend to remain steadfast trade partners with the United States, we will, in tandem, do whatever it takes to safeguard our economic interests.
"This includes engaging proactively with the United States towards achieving a mutually beneficial outcome and at the same time, diversifying and strengthening our ties with all major trade markets across the European Union, Asia, Middle East and Africa.”
"These efforts are not occurring in a vacuum. They unfold against a backdrop of mounting uncertainty, one that transcends any single country’s policy choice,” he said.
Anwar noted that globalisation, once thought to be forging ahead, now appeared to be in retreat with protectionism resurgent, supply chains being reconfigured, and multilateralism increasingly spoken of in the past tense.
He said that in this environment, Asean stands out as a beacon of hope and positivity as the bloc remains broadly committed to openness, cooperation and institutional continuity.
“Our total trade in goods stands at US$3.5 trillion (RM15.69 trillion). But this figure is not guaranteed. With the barrage of tariffs sweeping across the world in fast and furious fashion, we are witnessing the fraying of the global order.
"Therefore, Asean must rely more on itself,” he said, adding this would be in the form of strengthening inter-Asean trade.
“We must move beyond rhetoric to execution. Tariff liberalisation within the region is largely complete, but regulatory alignment, cross-border logistics, and digital connectivity remain unfinished business,” he said.
Anwar said Asean's external linkages needed to be safeguarded and expanded, with its Dialogue and Sectoral Partners spanning six continents.
He pointed out that few regional blocs can claim such a network.
As Asean Chair this year, he said, Malaysia will prioritise the revitalisation of strategic platforms such as the Asean Plus Three as mechanisms for economic resilience.
He said the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump’s administration are neither the first challenge to multilateralism, nor will they be the last.
However, he said if Asean can hold its nerve by staying open, pragmatic and cohesive, “it may yet be among the last believers in a world that works better when it works together.”
Trump announced retaliatory tariffs against several countries on April 3.
The 24% tariff on Malaysian goods entering the United States will begin on Wednesday (April 9).
This is part of a broad trade policy targeting countries that have large trade deficits with the United States. It does not, however, cover all Malaysian goods exported to the United States.
