Malaysia Actively Engages US On Tariff Issues, Furniture Products - Minister Tengku Zafrul
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is actively engaging with the United States on tariff-related issues, particularly tariffs on furniture products, while continuing efforts to strengthen the country’s economic fundamentals, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
The minister said discussions with US officials are ongoing, including with Malaysian furniture companies that would be affected by the recently announced tariff measures.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump, through his Truth Social account, announced that the United States will impose a 100 per cent tariff on any branded or patented pharmaceutical product, unless the company is building its pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in America. Apart from that, Washington would impose a 50 per cent tariff on all kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and associated products, as well as a 30 per cent tariff on upholstered furniture.
The United States also said it will impose a 25 per cent tariff on all “heavy or big trucks” made in other parts of the world. Those tariffs will be effective on Oct 1, 2025.
Tengku Zafrul said Malaysia is not the only one impacted by the tariffs, as the whole world is getting the same rate. “At the end of the day, we must live with the fact that countries like the United States and others have their own considerations regarding their domestic economy and politics,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Meeting and Related Meetings.
Against this backdrop, Tengku Zafrul stressed that Malaysia must remain focused on enhancing competitiveness and resilience. “Malaysia needs to continue looking at how we can strengthen our economic fundamentals so that we remain competitive, regardless of the policy actions taken by other countries,” he said.
The United States is the biggest export destination for Malaysian-made furniture.
According to the Malaysian Timber Council, wooden furniture exports to the US reached RM5.71 billion last year, accounting for 57.8 per cent of Malaysia's total wooden furniture exports.
The minister was clarifying on reciprocal tariff arrangements for semiconductor and pharmaceutical products, which fall under the United States’ Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which is different from the agreement in reciprocal trade. “So that is sectoral. We are talking about the baseline that is general. So, that Section 232 is separate from the agreement,” he added.
Malaysia and the United States are expected to sign the reciprocal trade agreement, which will be witnessed by Trump and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during Malaysia’s chairmanship of the 47th ASEAN Summit here in late October.
-- BERNAMA
