Govt to decide on US tariffs after next Monday, says Fahmi

 

Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said the Cabinet discussed the US tariffs in relation to the Asean trade ministers’ meeting.

PUTRAJAYA: 

The government will decide after next Monday on its next course of action on the reciprocal tariffs imposed by US president Donald Trump’s administration, says government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil.

At a press conference after a Cabinet meeting, he said this would depend on the outcomes of the Asean trade ministers’ meeting tomorrow and the National Geoeconomic Command Centre (NGCC) meeting next Monday.

“The Cabinet discussed the Trump tariffs in relation to the Asean trade ministers’ meeting. The NGCC will convene on Monday, and based on the outcomes of tomorrow’s meeting and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s discussions with the Asean heads of government, a decision will be made on Monday,” he said.

On April 2, Trump announced new tariffs that directly increase import duties on several of Washington’s trading partners in Southeast Asia, effective April 9.

The most affected country is Cambodia, with a base tariff of 49%, followed by Laos (48%), Vietnam (46%), and Myanmar (44%).

Thailand was hit with a 36% tariff, Indonesia 32%, Brunei and Malaysia 24% each, the Philippines 17%, and Singapore 10%.

Separately, Fahmi said Anwar had instructed the human resources ministry to obtain all the information on companies and workers affected by the gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights on April 1. - FMT