Kuala Lampur, April 8 -- In the face of rising global economic tensions, Malaysia has chosen a path of restraint. Following the United States' decision to impose a 10 per cent tariff hike on certain Malaysian exports, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) announced that it will not respond with retaliatory tariffs. While some may view this as a missed opportunity to assert Malaysia's stance, it is, in fact, a calculated move that prioritises long-term national interest over short-term sentiment.

Retaliatory tariffs often seem like the logical and reciprocal step. But in reality, such actions tend to hurt the domestic economy more than they help. When tariffs are imposed on imported goods, the costs are usually passed down...