KUALA LUMPUR: The government will adopt a cautious approach in determining Malaysia’s position on the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) with the United States, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said, stressing the need to safeguard national economic and trade interests.
Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, stated that the government will continue monitoring developments regarding the ART in the US, follow up on actions taken by US President Donald Trump, and examine various aspects to protect Malaysia’s interests.
“We will continue to monitor the ART closely as the US Supreme Court’s ruling is not yet final, and we are awaiting congress’s position. Moreover, President Trump can invoke other legal provisions to maintain tariffs previously imposed,” he said.
He emphasised that the government needs space to assess the developments and implications of US executive decisions, particularly concerning Malaysia-US bilateral trade valued at RM367.5 billion.
Anwar was responding to a question from Datuk Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) on the government’s position regarding the US Supreme Court’s declaration that the tariffs imposed by Trump were unlawful.– BERNAMA
