Malaysia waiting for MITI update before deciding on move regarding new US tariffs

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that Putrajaya will wait for a detailed briefing from the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) before deciding on Malaysia’s response to new US trade tariffs.

Anwar confirmed that MITI’s Johari Abdul Ghani had provided an initial explanation and that the matter would be discussed further at the Cabinet meeting on Friday.

“We will wait for the (Cabinet) meeting on Friday,” he said.

US tariffs

Anwar also said MITI is currently studying the impact of the new tariffs and is coordinating with officials in Washington, DC, as well as with Malaysia’s Asean counterparts, to determine the most appropriate response.

Johari said that Putrajaya is monitoring the shift in US trade policy with the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) in perspective. Malaysia has signed but not yet brought the agreement into force.

US President Donald Trump recently imposed a temporary 10 per cent tariff on all imports, which was then raised to 15 per cent.

This came after a key Supreme Court ruling said the use of emergency trade powers were not legal in the imposition of widespread tariffs against almost all countries trading with the USA.

The United States is Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner, with total trade between the two nations reaching approximately RM367 billion in 2025.

Business News