Compromise and cooperation: Tengku Zafrul (left) speaking to Ambassador Matt Murray (Senior Apec USA Officer) in Washington DC. — Photo from Tengku Zafrul’s Facebook page
KUALA LUMPUR: The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) is committed to seeking the best solution regarding retaliatory tariffs for mutual benefits, says its Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.
“Before meeting with senior US government officials, I held discussions with the Miti team here. We reviewed strategies and recent efforts to strengthen Malaysia-US trade relations,” he said in a social media post after he landed in Washington DC.
“We are committed to finding the best solution for our shared interests,” he said about his two-day visit to the US capital, where he is scheduled to meet US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and other relevant officials in Washington today.
In a recent media briefing, Tengku Zafrul said the Malaysian delegation would also take the opportunity to meet several business chambers, companies and interest groups to explain the country’s stand on the tariff issue, as well as the feedback received from the Cabinet.
“We need to be there to clarify how Malaysia, as a neutral country, plays a key role in the semiconductor and electrical and electronics sectors.
“Our goal is to demonstrate that Malaysia supports industries in the United States rather than posing a threat to them,” he said in a Bernama report.
Tengku Zafrul was accompanied by Miti deputy secretary-general (trade) Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, along with other ministry officials.
Miti representatives at the Malaysian Embassy in Washington will also join the delegation.
During a media briefing last week, Tengku Zafrul said although the visit is focused on Malaysia, he would take the opportunity to express Asean’s stance on the tariff issue, particularly the outcomes of the recent special meeting of Asean Economic Ministers.
Indochina Asean member countries have been the hardest hit by these tariffs, with Cambodia facing a combined base and retaliatory tariff of 49%, followed by Laos (48%), Vietnam (46%) and Myanmar (44%).
Thailand faces a 36% tariff, followed by Indonesia (32%), Brunei and Malaysia at 24% each, and the Philippines (17%), while Singapore has a base tariff of 10%.
> SEE NEXT PAGE With the exception of China, these retaliatory tariffs are paused under a 90-day reprieve as the respective countries enter into negotiations with the United States.
In a separate post titled “Seeking a Fair and Equitable Trade Solution”, Tengku Zafrul said he also held productive discussions in Washington with Matt Murray, the US Senior Official for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec).
“Malaysia comes as a constructive partner, not only in bilateral contexts but also as Asean chair in 2025 and a committed member of Apec. We appreciate the openness of the United States to listen and its readiness to continue structured discussions for our mutual benefit,” Tengku Zafrul added.
Malaysia is one of the 21 member economies of Apec.
Tengku Zafrul also said US tech giants Intel and Oracle have raised concerns about the impact of the tariffs on their operations in Malaysia.
In a video posted on X, he said both companies had engaged with the Malaysian government to discuss the challenges posed by the tariffs.
He added that both Intel and Oracle have held discussions with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to explain some of the challenges they face, with Intel highlighting the importance of its supply chain for the commercial viability of its business.
“We have again asked for industries to support us because our interests are aligned. They mostly export intermediate goods, while the finished goods are produced in the US. It’s important for them to explain why this is beneficial for the US,” he said.
