KUALA LUMPUR: The United States has imposed a higher tariff of 25% on any and all Malaysian products sent into the country, separate from all sectoral tariffs, effective Aug 1.
This is one percentage point higher compared to what had been announced in April.
In a letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim posted on his Truth Social account on Monday, US President Donald Trump said “the 25% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the trade deficit disparity we have with your country”.
But the letter also said there would be no tariff if Malaysia, or Malaysian companies, decide to build or manufacture products within the United States, and that Washington “will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely – in other words, in a matter of weeks”.
Trump also said that if Malaysia decided to raise tariffs, the number the country is imposed will be added onto the 25% that the United States is charging.
Malaysia has been negotiating the US tariffs since April to lessen the 24% tariff imposed earlier, with the latest talks held on June 18, Bernama reported.
