
US tariff cut to 19%: Tengku Zafrul to explain in Dewan Rakyat
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil confirmed the update during a post-Cabinet press conference.
'Tengku Zafrul will inform Parliament on Monday about the US decision concerning the tariff issue,' he said.
Tengku Zafrul earlier stated that the revised tariff reflects the strong economic ties between Malaysia and the US.
He stressed that Malaysia upheld its 'red lines' during negotiations, securing the 19% rate without compromising national sovereignty or socio-economic policies.
Bilateral tariff discussions began on May 6 and concluded on July 31.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim previously informed Parliament about his phone discussion with US President Donald Trump, which included trade and tariff negotiations.
'After my clarification, President Trump agreed to review the tariff rate, with the decision announced today,' Anwar said. - Bernama
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Charting Malaysia's course in the blue economy
WE are glad that the prime minister mentioned the development of the blue economy when tabling the 13th Malaysia Plan in the Dewan Rakyat on July 31. Despite the importance of the blue economy, which relates to maritime resources, we tend to overlook it in favour of other sectors such as manufacturing, construction and agriculture. With our reliance on trade, fisheries, ports and shipping, the recognition of the blue economy is a natural progression of efforts to seek new sources of economic growth for the nation. That fact that we are at the crossroads of sea trading routes between the East and West speaks volumes about the importance of maritime activities to our economy. Interestingly, our major trading partner, China, has been giving a lot of attention to maritime activities, such as shipping and port operations. Shipping lanes carry the lion's share of world trade as it is much cheaper than using air or rail to transport goods across continents. A host of industries support shipping, such as banking and insurance, bunkering, provisioning and container services. Shipping is also connected with the land transport system as part of the logistics chain. Malaysia has also other interests in the maritime domain, as much of its oil production is from offshore sources in Terengganu, Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak. Additionally, there are beautiful tourism islands, such as Langkawi, Tioman, Sipadan and Perhentian. These must be promoted and their connections with mainland jetties or ports improved. The rising interest in cruise tourism is another sector that should be explored and developed. To protect these vital economic sectors, there must be adequate patrols by security forces. The assets of the Royal Malaysian Navy, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and marine police must be upgraded so that they are better able to curb incursions into our waters and keep pirates and smugglers at bay. Certainly, our blue economy must be developed with regional partners in mind, particularly Indonesia and Singapore. There may be complementarities to be studied and competition to be managed so that the whole region benefits. The three countries should also study how to extract further benefits from the Strait of Malacca, where over 94,000 ships pass through a year, making it one of the most crowded maritime lanes in the world. The strait is bounded by Sumatra to the west and Peninsular Malaysia to the east, with Singapore at its southern end. All three countries should collaborate to make the strait safe so that that trade can flourish. The strong bond of Asean can be an impetus for enhanced cooperation in this area. Hence, it is timely that the government and business groups work together to further develop economic and employment opportunities from our maritime resources. Perhaps a strategic long-term plan on the blue economy can be produced for the benefit of potential investors.


New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Beyond disputes: Turning Ambalat and Pedra Branca into platforms for maritime cooperation
THE maritime disputes over Ambalat and Batu Puteh are complex. Ambalat, located in the resource-rich Sulawesi Sea, is claimed by Malaysia and Indonesia since the early 2000s. The area is believed to contain significant hydrocarbon reserves, and both countries have issued oil exploration licences that have led to diplomatic protests and naval stand-offs. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently emphasised the role of Sabah — which is the Malaysian state closest to the area — in ensuring that any joint development has equitable outcomes for border communities. Meanwhile, the dispute over Batu Puteh was partially resolved in 2008 when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded sovereignty over it to Singapore. In the same judgment, the ICJ ruled that Middle Rocks belonged to Malaysia, while sovereignty over South Ledge would rest with the state in whose territorial waters it is located. As the ICJ did not delimit maritime boundaries, South Ledge's status is unresolved. In recent years, bilateral efforts have intensified to resolve outstanding maritime issues. At the 11th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders' Retreat in January, both governments agreed to begin technical work to delimit maritime boundaries in the Johor Strait, using the 1927 Territorial Waters Agreement as a legal basis. Singapore's continued engagement through the Joint Technical Committee reflects its commitment to resolve maritime issues through dialogue and legal frameworks. These disputes reflect deeper questions of sovereignty, historical memory and control over vital sea lanes. But they also present an opportunity to transform contested maritime zones into shared spaces of cooperation. Malaysia and Indonesia should consider establishing a joint development authority (JDA) to manage resources and reduce tensions over Ambalat. Similarly, Malaysia and Singapore could explore cooperative arrangements around Middle Rocks and South Ledge, focusing on maritime safety, environmental stewardship and scientific research. Such frameworks — already proven in the Malaysia-Thailand JDA in the Gulf of Thailand — would allow all parties to benefit economically while preserving their legal positions. Importantly, joint development does not require any party to relinquish its claims. Under Article 83 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea , states are encouraged to reach provisional arrangements pending final delimitation. Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore have played pivotal roles in Asean's evolution and have consistently advocated for peaceful dispute resolution and regional stability. Their cooperation on Ambalat and Batu Puteh could serve as a model for other maritime disputes in Southeast Asia, including in the South China Sea. A coordinated initiative involving Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore — each addressing their respective maritime disputes — could serve as a model for broader governance reforms within Asean, strengthening its commitment to pragmatic diplomacy and peaceful resolution. Public discourse in all three countries must focus on collaboration. Parliamentarians, diplomats and civil society leaders should advocate for open dialogue, confidence-building measures and creative legal solutions. The media should frame these disputes as opportunities for partnership. Ambalat and Batu Puteh should be reimagined as foundations for a shared maritime future — where sovereignty concerns are balanced with economic pragmatism and regional solidarity. The establishment of JDAs would not only unlock resource potential but also signal that Southeast Asia is capable of resolving disputes through diplomacy and innovation. During the recent Malaysia-Indonesia Annual Consultation, President Prabowo Subianto reaffirmed Indonesia's commitment to resolving the Ambalat dispute through peaceful means. Both leaders agreed to explore joint development initiatives as they recognise that legal processes may take years. This bilateral momentum reflects a pragmatic approach to diplomacy. On the Batu Puteh front, Singapore has likewise shown its willingness to cooperate. These parallel bilateral engagements — Malaysia with Indonesia over Ambalat, and Malaysia with Singapore over Batu Puteh — signal a commitment to regional stability, peaceful dispute resolution and collaborative maritime governance.


Malaysiakini
5 hours ago
- Malaysiakini
Akmal wishes Zafrul luck after acceptance into PKR, says 'warning given'
Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh today launched a thinly veiled attack on PKR and its newest recruit, Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, following the latter's announcement of his PKR membership. In a Facebook post, Akmal (above) sardonically thanked PKR for 'showing us Umno grassroots the true meaning of this unity government', while asserting that a 'warning' was already given with regard to Zafrul's defection from Umno to PKR.