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Tengku Zafrul: 19pc US tariff a win for Malaysia, no compromise on sovereignty

Tengku Zafrul: 19pc US tariff a win for Malaysia, no compromise on sovereignty

Malay Mail5 days ago
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 — The United States' decision to reduce tariff on Malaysian exports to 19 per cent from 25 per cent is a significant achievement and stems from Malaysia's thorough and methodical negotiating process, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Tengku Zafrul emphasised that Malaysia had stood firm on various 'red line' items, and the 19 per cent tariff rate was secured without compromising the nation's sovereign right to implement key policies supporting socio-economic stability and growth.
'This positive outcome follows sustained engagement between both governments through various bilateral platforms and reflects the high degree of Malaysia–US complementarity in trade and investment for over 60 years,' he said in a statement.
He also noted that the reduced rate is broadly in line with other Southeast Asian countries.
The Malaysia–US tariff negotiations started on May 6 and concluded on July 31, 2025. — Bernama
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