Malaysia to secure trade with foreign nations, not wait for US tariffs

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
4 Feb 2025 12:38

Malaysia's prime minister stresses the need for proactive steps in forming trade relations with several nations under the risk of US tariffs.

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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks at a press conference during Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's visit to the country, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on January 27, 2025. (AP)

Malaysia will strengthen trade ties with countries like China, Russia, and Brazil rather than passively await the effects of possible US trade tariffs, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated on Tuesday.

Addressing parliament, Anwar emphasized that delaying action until the US imposes tariffs could negatively impact Malaysia, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding US President Donald Trump's 30-day suspension of tariffs on Canada and Mexico.

"On our part, we must take proactive steps... to aggressively open a wider network of trading partners," Anwar said, emphasizing that Malaysia could not respond hastily to these tariffs due to ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.

Trump previously threatened 100% tariffs on the BRICS nations—a group comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—if they created a rival to the US dollar, a stance he reinforced on Thursday night.

He posted on his Truth Social platform: "The idea that the BRICS Countries are trying to move away from the Dollar, while we stand by and watch, is OVER."

While Canada and Mexico secured a temporary reprieve from the 25% tariffs to work on a strategy that addresses cross-border crime, those on China took effect on Tuesday.

In response, China quickly retaliated by imposing its own tariffs on select American goods, reigniting the trade war between the world's two largest economies. These include a 15% tariff on US coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG), and 10% tariffs on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and certain cars, effective from February 10.

China also launched an anti-monopoly investigation into Google and added two US companies—PVH Corp (owner of brands like Calvin Klein) and biotech company Illumina—to its "unreliable entities list." Additionally, China’s Commerce Ministry and Customs Administration imposed export controls on critical materials like tungsten, tellurium, and ruthenium, necessary for industrial and clean energy applications, to "safeguard national security interests."