PUTRAJAYA, April 22 — A special Dewan Rakyat sitting will be held on May 5 to discuss the United States’ retaliatory tariffs on Malaysia.
This was confirmed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.
“Yes, May 5,” he told the media briefly at the Prime Minister’s Department Aidilfitri event here today.
Earlier, a Chinese-language daily reported that the Prime Minister’s Office had released information on the matter.
The newspaper also reported that several MPs said they have not received notifications about the session.
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz is scheduled to visit Washington on Thursday.
During the two-day visit, he will meet American Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to discuss retaliatory tariffs imposed on Malaysia by the US.
During the visit, the Malaysian delegation will also meet with several chambers of commerce, companies, and interest groups to explain the country’s position and the Cabinet’s response.
Tengku Zafrul said his visit is not for negotiations, but to discuss Malaysia’s important role in the supply chain between Asia and the US, especially in the semiconductor and electrical and electronics sectors.
In addition, as Asean chair, Malaysia will take the opportunity to state the bloc’s position on the tariffs, emphasising its belief in a rules-based global trading system and the principles of multilateralism in trade.
US President Donald Trump on April 2 announced that his country would introduce a basic tariff of 10 per cent for all countries, and higher duties for several countries, including Malaysia, which was slapped with a 24 per cent rate.
— Bernama
