MICCI backs MITI's move to centralise US export certification
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) has expressed full support for the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry's (MITI) decision to centralise the issuance of non-preferential certificates of origin (NPCOs) for exports to the United States.
MICCI president Christina Tee said the move is a strategic and necessary step to reinforce Malaysia's trade position in light of intensifying global trade tensions.
Highlighting the need for a unified national strategy, Tee said the chamber is prepared to relinquish its role in issuing NPCOs for the US market—even though it contributes to MICCI's revenue.
"Although it is one of our income sources, we are very confident that the amount of exports to the US certified by us is less than 15 per cent and we have a lot of other NPCO issued for other countries.
"We are willing to give out 15 per cent of the NPCO to support the success of Miti as the issuer so that we can actually win in this tariff war on the national level," she told the media during an engagement session today.
Previously, NPCOs for exports to the US were issued by a range of business chambers, including MICCI. However, in response to the latest US tariff hikes, MITI has opted to assume full control of the certification process to streamline compliance and reinforce export integrity.
Tee expressed confidence in MITI's capabilities, noting its prior experience issuing NPCOs for other countries, including India and Turkey.
"The only thing now is the workload. Such a big workload. But give them some time; they will resolve it. I can tell you, the Miti system and MIDA system during the pandemic were superb. They worked around the clock," she added.
Tee pointed out that exporters shipping by sea typically have a two-week window to obtain the necessary documentation, which should help ease the transition, while noting that Miti is likely to increase resources to handle the surge in applications.
MICCI has also pledged to monitor the situation closely on behalf of its members, ensuring any delays or issues are raised promptly with MITI.
"What we as MICCI will do is monitor how our members are experiencing this. If there are delays, we will continue our engagement with Miti. They've already proven to be one of the most effective government agencies, especially during the pandemic," she said.
On MICCI's own practices, the president stressed the chamber's strict standards in issuing NPCOs, which are only provided to vetted members actively involved in manufacturing operations in Malaysia.
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