PARLIAMENT | United States President Donald Trump will announce the new tariffs for Malaysia tomorrow (Aug 1), Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.
He told the Dewan Rakyat today that this followed a conversation with Trump at 6am today.
“After the discussion and some explanations I provided, he decided to postpone the announcement until the next day.
“The (new) tariff will be announced tomorrow and we pray, God willing, that it will help and not burden our country’s economy,” he said in his speech tabling the 13th Malaysia Plan.
Yesterday, Reuters reported Trump as saying that he will not extend the deadline for the tariffs to come into effect, which will also occur tomorrow.
On July 8, the US announced a blanket 25 percent tariff on all Malaysian products, which would be separate from existing sectoral tariffs and is one percent higher than the rate announced in April.
Explaining Trump’s move, Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz admitted that tariff negotiations with the US are complex and require certain sacrifices.
Speaking further on the US president, Anwar said Trump confirmed his attendance at the Asean Summit in October.
Thailand-Cambodia conflict
Anwar further said that Trump had also expressed appreciation for Malaysia's role in mediating the Thailand-Cambodia conflict.
"Although in my response, I stated this was because of Asean unity, and this was because of the positive attitude of both countries and also because of the cooperation shown by the US, especially Trump, and also Chinese President Xi Jinping," Anwar said.
Trump had claimed the credit for the ceasefire agreement reached between the neighbouring Southeast Asian countries.
The US government had previously credited Anwar for brokering the ceasefire.
On July 28, Anwar announced that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to an unconditional ceasefire effective midnight, following peace talks hosted in Putrajaya.
At a press conference alongside the Thai and Cambodian prime ministers, Anwar revealed that Trump had also spoken with both leaders, urging them to seek a peaceful resolution.
The US co-hosted the meeting, with China participating as an observer to support a peaceful resolution to the situation.
Malaysia holds the rotating chair of Asean, which includes both Thailand and Cambodia among its members.
Tensions between the two neighbours escalated on May 28 after a deadly clash in the Preah Vihear area that resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier.
The two countries have a long-standing dispute over their 817km border, which remains partially unmarked.- Mkini
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