Malaysia’s Trade Minister Visits the United States

On April 23, Malaysian Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz met with the U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in Washington D.C. to address trade rebalancing efforts. Minister Zafrul emphasized Malaysia’s intention to strengthen U.S-Malaysia bilateral trade through various measures following the 24% reciprocal tariff introduced to Malaysia by the Trump Administration. Minister Zafrul’s visit signaled a proactive, transparent approach to managing trade tensions.  

During his trip, Minister Zafrul also met with the US-ASEAN Business Council, in which he stressed that the tariff negotiation timeline rested with the Trump Administration but urged U.S. companies to share supporting data to help Malaysia advocate for sector-specific exemptions. Minister Zafrul’s message was clear: Malaysia seeks to strengthen, not disrupt, economic ties with the United States and that Malaysia is committed to preserving supply chain stability and promoting continued investment opportunities including for U.S. businesses. He emphasized Malaysia’s role as a neutral, essential player in global supply chains, particularly in semiconductors and electrical and electronics sectors, among others. 

While ASEAN countries have responded individually to U.S. tariffs, ASEAN is also exploring a coordinated regional strategy. Malaysia as the ASEAN Chair hosted a special virtual meeting of the ASEAN economic ministers Geoeconomics Taskforce resulting in a joint statement confirming that ASEAN would not adopt retaliatory measures. In light of growing pressure on Southeast Asian exporters, ASEAN has also sought to engage with Washington to address trade-related concerns, including through existing ASEAN-U.S. economic cooperation frameworks. While this consensus-based approach presents certain bureaucratic challenges, it offers an amplified voice, enhancing potential impacts.