rki.news
KUALA LUMPUR, February 24 (Xinhua) — Malaysia will adopt a cautious approach in determining its stance on the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) with the United States, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in parliament Tuesday.
Addressing questions about recent legal developments in the U.S. regarding the legality of tariffs imposed during the administration of former President Donald Trump, Anwar emphasized that any decision on the existing ART must carefully balance national security and trade interests.
“We will continue to monitor the ART closely as the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling is not yet final, and we are awaiting Congress’s position,” he said.
Anwar highlighted that the government needs time to fully assess the implications of U.S. decisions, particularly concerning Malaysia-U.S. bilateral trade, which currently amounts to 367.5 billion ringgit (94.35 billion U.S. dollars).
The prime minister stressed that Malaysia values its economic ties with the United States and will ensure that any policy decisions on ART protect national interests while supporting continued trade growth, stability, and long-term cooperation.