KUALA LUMPUR: Protection for local manufacturers will be strengthen with the passing of the amendments to the Countervailing and Anti-Dumping Duties (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Aug 26).
“We protect local manufacturers who face price competition from foreign manufacturers and exporters,” Investment, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Liew Chin Tong said during his winding-up speech after tabling the second reading of the Bill in the Dewan Rakyat.
It applies to producers and manufacture who conduct value-adding activities in Malaysia.
He said the aim of the law was to uphold the principle of fair trade amidst the challenging backdrop of US tariffs and the second order effects from it as well as the challenges to the World Trade Organisation multilateralism system.
In a related note, Liew acknowledged that the definition and the use of the term transhipment by US President Donald Trump’s administration was very “new”.
“We have yet to have a definition that we agree on," said Liew.
Provisions of the amendment Bill includes empowering the government to investigate and act against exporters or producers evading duties by rerouting or altering products or undermining imposed duties.
The Bill was tabled for the first reading by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz on July 30.
