KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 1 -- Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz has denied claims that Malaysia has compromised its halal certification standards as part of ongoing trade talks with the United States.

Addressing allegations that Malaysia would lower its halal standards as a concession to the US, he also dismissed claims of exclusive deals with the Americans for rare earth minerals.

"There is absolutely no compromise on halal standards.

"What we have agreed to is the facilitation of the import process for halal-certified products into Malaysia, not a lowering of our halal standards," he told reporters today during a briefing on US tariff rates.

Malaysia's halal import restrictions and its r...