Kuala Lampur, April 4 -- On April 2, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs: a blanket 10 per cent base tariff on all imports into the United States, with higher duties on selected countries - including 24 per cent on Malaysian goods.

Other key trade partners, such as China (34 per cent), Vietnam (46 per cent), Cambodia (49 per cent), Thailand (32 per cent), and Indonesia (28 per cent), were also targeted.

The move marks a significant escalation in US protectionist policy and is expected to weigh heavily on Asia's financial markets and trade-dependent economies.

Malaysia's trade exposure to the US

The United States is a critical economic partner for Malaysia, particularly in high-technology and capital-intensiv...