KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is monitoring the implications of a recent US Supreme Court ruling that struck down tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, with the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) now reviewing the matter.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said MITI is coordinating with both Washington and Asean partners to determine the next course of action.
“Regarding the tariffs, Datuk Seri Johari Ghani has already provided an explanation, and we will receive a detailed briefing before issuing an official response,” he told reporters after a breaking-of-fast ceremony with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia and the launch of the Rakan Masjid x Rakan Muda Ramadan programme here on Saturday (Feb 22).
“We will wait for Friday’s Cabinet meeting. MITI is currently reviewing the matter and coordinating with Washington, as well as Asean partners, to determine the appropriate course of action,” he added.
On Feb 20, the US Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, upheld a lower court’s decision that Trump had exceeded his authority under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) when imposing the tariffs. The justices held that the law did not grant Trump the powers he claimed.
Following the ruling, Trump said he would impose a uniform 10% tariff on all imports under a separate legal authority, adding that the decision left him “more powerful”.
Malaysia and the United States signed a reciprocal trade agreement during Trump’s visit to Kuala Lumpur last October for the Asean Summit. The deal maintained tariffs at 19%, with certain products eligible for zero tariffs under agreed partner-trade lists.
