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KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 27): Malaysia has no plans to renegotiate its trade deal with the US, and the government is focused on making sure all ministries follow the agreement, said Investment, Trade and Industry minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz on Thursday.
He said all trade agreements, including free trade agreements, allow for periodic reviews, but these can only happen after Malaysia ratifies the deal and require both parties’ consent.
“Any review requires mutual agreement, so both parties must consent,” he said at a news conference after addressing a bipartisan parliamentary caucus to address the Malaysia–US trade agreement.
For now, he said the government is focused on making sure all ministries and agencies follow the agreement, with Miti coordinating the process.
He added that Malaysia will only proceed with ratification once all parties are ready, noting that no legal amendments are required.
“This shows that the agreement does not affect the country’s sovereignty,” he said.
On Oct 26, Malaysia and the US reached a reciprocal trade pact under which the US — Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner — pledged to maintain tariffs on Malaysian products at 19%. In return, Malaysia agreed to remove or reduce tariffs on selected US goods.
The deal, signed during US President Donald Trump’s visit to Kuala Lumpur during the 47th Asean Summit, has however faced strong backlash from critics who claim it is "one-sided" and could compromise Malaysia’s sovereignty.
On Thursday, Zafrul reiterated that allegations the deal threatens Malaysia’s sovereignty are “completely untrue”, noting that the agreement’s preamble explicitly affirms both countries’ commitment to sovereignty, economic prosperity and resilient supply chains.
He also rejected claims that the pact could harm Malaysia–China relations, stressing that it is a trade agreement, not a geopolitical alliance.
“Malaysia will continue to maintain and expand trade through platforms such as the Asean–China Free Trade Agreement, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP),” he said.
Responding to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s allegation that the agreement grants Bumiputera status to American companies, Zafrul dismissed it as “a fabrication”, saying Bumiputera rights were a “red line” throughout negotiations with the US.
Article By Choy Nyen Yiau
Edited ByPresenna Nambiar
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