PORT DICKSON: Negotiations with the United States will continue over the latest tariff measures, with Putrajaya seeking revisions to areas it considers unfavourable, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“For now, we will accept it, although we have negotiated, beginning with then (Investment, Trade and Industry Minister) Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz and now with Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani,” he said, expressing relief that the tariffs were lower than other countries.
“If there’s anything we’re unhappy with, we will negotiate,” he said after attending the Semarak Kenegaraan programme at the Army Basic Training Centre (Pusasda).
The tariff follows a Section 301 investigation launched by the US Trade Representative (USTR) in March into 60 economies regarding their forced labour import restrictions.
The tariff, which took effect on July 24, follows the expiry of the temporary tariff imposed under Section 122 of the US Trade Act of 1974.
Other economies subject to the 10% tariff include Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Mexico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom.
In a separate statement, the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry said Malaysia remains among 17 economies subject to a lower 10% US Section 301 tariff, following forced-labour investigations into 60 nations.
Malaysia’s placement in the lower tariff tier reflects the USTR’s recognition of the country’s commitment to implement and enforce laws prohibiting the importation of goods produced using forced labour, it said.
The remaining economies covered by the investigation are subject to a higher 12.5% tariff rate, the ministry added.
The ministry also said the USTR’s Section 301 investigation into excess capacity – involving 16 economies, including Malaysia – remains ongoing.
The ministry said it would update stakeholders once the USTR determines any tariff measures arising from the excess capacity investigation, adding that it will continue engaging with the United States on the matter.
On foreign affairs, Anwar maintained that Malaysia’s position was a rejection of Israel’s oppression, rather than anti-semitism, adding the country would remain firm on the matter.
“We are not insulting the Jews. We are against what Israel is doing, yet we are being labelled as if we are against a certain group. We are only against countries that oppress others,” he said.
On Tuesday, several US lawmakers called on Washington to review its security and economic ties with Malaysia following Anwar’s remarks to deport dual citizenship-holding Israeli nationals in the country.
This was in response to calls by the Johor government for authorities to investigate the Network School, the technology community at Forest City, following claims that Israeli nationals with dual citizenship were living in the area.
At the event, Anwar also said that another PETRONAS tanker sailing from the Middle East is expected to arrive in Melaka in early August.
The Prime Minister said he was informed of this by PETRONAS chief executive officer Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz on Thursday.
In April, one of the Malaysian-owned vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, known as the Ocean Thunder, arrived at the Pengerang terminal carrying one million barrels of crude oil from Basrah, Iraq.
This shipment came following the previous closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
