KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia seeks to maintain good ties with the United States, says Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
“Malaysia has always been a good economic partner to the United States. That’s why it has always been among Malaysia’s largest foreign investors.
“We provide an environment where US companies are able to prosper. Intel has been in Malaysia since 1971.
“Other companies have been in Malaysia even longer, some since independence,” the minister said at the Asean Leadership Forum.
“So, what we want is the ability for us to continue with this positive relationship – to create a mechanism where both parties will gain opportunities to prosper within the space, compete within the space to grow and integrate what they have within Malaysia with their global supply chain. That’s a great outcome,” he said.
Amir Hamzah said he believed that a mutual understanding was achievable, as both countries had consistently approached the partnership with mutual respect. He emphasised making the cake bigger, rather than getting caught up in arguments over how to divide the cake into little pieces.
On Malaysia’s approach regarding the 24% reciprocal tariffs, Amir Hamzah said Malaysia had already started discussions with the United States.
“The good thing is, we have had our first conversation, and the conversation was received well enough. Next is a number of steps that will have to come after that,” he said.
However, he noted a bilateral arrangement would take time.
“To lock up trade agreements takes a while – to work through the technicalities – but it starts with a first conversation and first principles, and then continued dialogue to close the gaps,” he added.
Malaysia has expressed its openness to negotiate on four key areas – reducing the trade deficit; addressing non-tariff barriers; strengthening technological safeguards and security; and exploring a potential bilateral trade agreement.
