Kuala Lumpur: Tariff negotiations between Malaysia and the US are still ongoing following the announcement of a 25% tariff on Malaysian goods earlier this week, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Post-Ministerial Conferences here, Anwar said he would meet US secretary of state Marco Rubio tomorrow to discuss the issue.
“We have sent teams to negotiate and explain our position that Malaysia is a trading nation, and that any unilateral tariffs will negatively impact the economy of both our country and the region.
“But we are still in the midst of negotiations. When I meet Rubio tomorrow, I will certainly raise some of these issues for his consideration, so that they can be brought up before the final decision by President Donald Trump,” he told reporters.
Anwar also said Malaysia’s relationship with the US must be maintained.
On Monday, Trump announced the 25% tariff on Malaysian goods from Aug 1, following a 90-day delay in implementation of the initial 24% rate.
In a letter to Anwar, Trump said the deficit that the US had with Malaysia was due to Malaysia’s long-standing tariff and non-tariff barriers.
The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) previously identified Malaysia’s strict rules on halal imports and Bumiputera equity requirements as barriers which had contributed to the 24% tariff initially imposed on April 2.
In its 2025 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, the USTR said Malaysia’s halal standards exceeded international norms, requiring dedicated halal-only facilities and complex registration processes which increased costs and delayed exports.
The report also flagged investment barriers, particularly the requirement for 30% Bumiputera ownership in foreign-owned firms and restrictions in sectors such as oil and gas, media, and public procurement.
During a special parliamentary meeting in May, Anwar affirmed that core national policies, including the Bumiputera policy, local vendor requirements, and protection for strategic sectors, would remain unchanged in US tariff talks.
