Kuala Lampur, July 16 -- At a time when Malaysia must accelerate its climate transition, can we afford foreign and domestic policy shocks that destabilize our climate finance and green technology agenda?

The recent announcement by the US President Donald Trump to impose a sweeping 25 per cent tariff on "any and all Malaysian products" starting August 1, 2025, has jolted Malaysia's economy and potentially, its entire energy transition trajectory. This move, posted not only threatens our US$80 billion annual trade relationship with the US, but risks undercutting the financial and industrial scaffolding needed to meet our net-zero ambitions by 2050.

For a country that has pledged a 45 per cent reduction in carbon intensity by 2030, this is...