Malaysia's PM Anwar says US trade talks unaffected by China ties
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the US pledged to 'sympathetically' review its appeal for lower tariffs. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
PUTRAJAYA – Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the US pledged to 'sympathetically' review its appeal for lower tariffs even as the South-east Asian nation seeks to strengthen its ties with Washington's top competitor China.
Datuk Seri Anwar heaped praise on President Xi Jinping during his state visit to Malaysia in mid-April and signed 31 agreements, about a week before Malaysia started talks with US trade representatives over tariffs.
'At the height of this negotiation with the United States, we welcomed President Xi Jinping. We have no qualms about it,' Mr Anwar said at a briefing in the administrative capital of Putrajaya late on May 21. 'We were glad that he was never raised as an issue with the United States.'
Malaysia is negotiating with the US to bring tariffs on its exports down to zero, from the 24 per cent imposed by President Donald Trump.
In return, Washington wants Malaysia to address trade imbalances, non-tariff barriers and safeguard US technology from being channelled to other parties and investments.
'The United States has promised to look at it sympathetically and review and keep us posted,' Mr Anwar said of Malaysia's proposal.
Malaysia, which helms the Association of South-east Asian Nations in 2025, will hold an inaugural summit next week that brings together that regional group, along with China and a key bloc of Middle East states.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang will be in Kuala Lumpur for the event.
Malaysia this week found itself entangled in one of Washington's disputes with Beijing.
The South-east Asian country announced it will build the first-of-its-kind AI system powered by Huawei Technologies Co chips, but then quickly distanced itself from that statement a day later.
Malaysia's Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry disavowed the project, saying it was privately driven.
'As a policy, we made it very clear we are fiercely independent,' Mr Anwar said. 'We want what is best for our country.' BLOOMBERG
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