吉隆坡，7月8日讯——马来西亚内阁预计将于明日（9日）召开会议，重点讨论美国决定自8月1日起，对来自马来西亚的部分进口商品征收25%关税所带来的影响，以及我国可能采取的应对措施。
种植及原产业部长拿督斯里佐哈里阿都干尼表示，美国最初在今年4月宣布“解放日关税”计划，暂停原定24%的关税，并将谈判期限延长至8月1日。然而，特朗普政府日前决定调高税率至25%。佐哈里坦言，大马几乎无法阻止美方的单边决定，目前谈判工作仍由投资、贸易及工业部长东姑扎夫鲁领导进行。
他说，大马每年对美出口总额约200亿令吉，占美国进口市场比例非常小。出口产品主要包括棕榈油、相关制品及橡胶手套，而这些商品并非美国本土生产，因此预料美方进口商最终仍需承担部分额外成本。
不过，佐哈里指出，大马在这些产品出口方面面临印尼、越南、泰国和中国的强劲竞争，印尼的棕油出口规模远超大马，而泰国在橡胶手套领域的出口也领先于大马。
被问及若因加入金砖机制而面临再加征10%关税时，佐哈里认为，不应把特朗普的做法视为马来西亚出口市场的“死刑判决”。他强调：“全球有超过190个国家，一个国家加征关税，并不代表大马就无法生存。我们会继续推动市场多元化，降低对美国的依赖，减轻潜在冲击。”
他补充，马来西亚将继续与美国保持建设性接触，力求为本地企业和供应链争取最大利益。与此同时，在外部压力与国内温和通胀的背景下，马来西亚国家银行有望在9日宣布降息25个基点，以支撑经济成长。
据了解，此次美国对包括马来西亚在内的多国施加25%关税，是特朗普“互惠关税”政策的一部分，主要针对亚洲制造出口大国。此举已令东盟多国感到担忧，也为区域供应链稳定性带来更多变数。
Malaysia to discuss US 25% tariff in Cabinet
KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — Malaysia’s Cabinet is set to meet tomorrow (July 9) to deliberate on the impact of the US government’s decision to impose a 25% tariff on selected Malaysian imports starting August 1, and to chart out possible responses.
Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the US initially paused its proposed 24% tariff back in April, extending talks until August. However, the Trump administration recently decided to hike the tariff to 25%. Johari admitted Malaysia has limited means to halt this unilateral move, but stressed that Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul is continuing negotiations on Malaysia’s behalf.
He noted that Malaysia exports roughly RM20 billion worth of goods to the US annually, representing only a tiny slice of America’s total imports. Key Malaysian exports to the US include palm oil, palm-based products and rubber gloves — items not produced domestically in the US — meaning American importers are likely to absorb a fair portion of the added costs.
Still, Johari pointed out that Malaysia faces stiff competition. Indonesia’s palm oil exports far exceed Malaysia’s, while Thailand, Vietnam and China are strong rivals in the rubber glove market.
Asked whether Malaysia’s ties with BRICS could prompt an extra 10% tariff hike, Johari cautioned against seeing Trump’s move as a “death sentence” for Malaysia’s export prospects. “There are over 190 countries in the world. Just because one country raises tariffs doesn’t mean Malaysia cannot survive,” he said, stressing the need to diversify export markets and reduce reliance on the US to cushion any fallout.
He added Malaysia would continue engaging with the US in a constructive way to safeguard domestic businesses and supply chains. Meanwhile, with external pressures mounting and domestic inflation still modest, Bank Negara Malaysia is expected to announce a 25 basis-point interest rate cut on July 9 to help support growth.
This latest tariff move on Malaysia and several other countries is part of Trump’s wider “reciprocal tariffs” push, mainly targeting Asian export-heavy economies. It has sparked concern across ASEAN, adding more uncertainty to regional supply chains.
