Ex-US Negotiator On Malaysia's Tariff Hopes: 'No Chance' Against Trump's 24% Wall

A former US trade negotiator, Stephen Olson, believes Malaysia is unlikely to eliminate the 24% tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump due to limited leverage in negotiations. He suggests Malaysia highlight corporate and geopolitical pressure points and emphasize mutual trade benefits, as the US is Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner with RM324.91 billion in trade last year. However, Olson sees no scenario for achieving 0% tariffs.

Tariff Hopes

1. On Malaysia’s leverage in tariff talks:

“Malaysia would have limited leverage in tariff talks.”

2. On Trump’s response to potential Malaysian counter-tariffs:
“Trump is ‘unlikely to bat an eye’ even if Malaysia threatened the US with 500% tariffs.”

3. On negotiation strategy:
“Malaysian negotiators should also emphasise the ways in which the US benefits from its trade and economic relations with Malaysia.”

4. On the possibility of eliminating tariffs:
“To be brutally honest, I don’t see any scenario in which 0% tariffs are within the realm of possibility (for Malaysia) here.”

Business News