KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 — Malaysia is scrutinising the implications of US President Donald Trump’s latest pledge to impose a blanket 10 per cent tariff on all imported goods, with Putrajaya awaiting further details from Washington on how the measure will be enforced.
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the government is closely monitoring the development alongside broader shifts in US trade policy.
“We have taken note of the latest announcement by Trump regarding the temporary 10 per cent tariff, and we are studying its scope and implications,” he said in a statement today.
“At this stage, we are waiting for further clarification on how the measure will be implemented and whether additional adjustments will be made.”
Malaysia has yet to ratify the Reciprocal Trade Agreement (ART), signed in October last year, under which the country previously faced a 19 per cent reciprocal tariff following negotiations with the US.
Trump’s latest move comes after the US Supreme Court ruled that his earlier use of emergency powers to levy sweeping “reciprocal tariffs” on almost all US trading partners was unconstitutional.
Shortly after the ruling, Trump announced that a new 10 per cent tariff would take effect immediately.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had signed the relevant documents for the new trade policy at the Oval Office in the White House.
Johari said Malaysia recognised the Supreme Court’s February 20 ruling but noted that the US still has “other legal mechanisms” to impose unilateral trade measures “should it choose to do so.”
He stressed that Malaysia’s position remained unchanged: committed to open, rules-based trade and to maintaining a predictable business environment.
“Malaysia is consistent in safeguarding the interests of Malaysian exporters, international investors, businesses operating in Malaysia, and workers across the economy,” he said.
He added that Malaysia would continue diversifying its trade relationships and strengthening regional and multilateral cooperation to build resilience amid shifting global trade dynamics.
“We will act in the best interests of Malaysia while maintaining strong bilateral ties with the US,” he said.
The US is among the world’s largest economies, with a GDP of about US$31 trillion.
Total trade between Malaysia and the US reached roughly RM367 billion last year, with Malaysian exports accounting for RM233 billion of the figure.
