Malaysia Seeks to Maintain Zero U.S. Chip Tariffs Amid Trade Talks
Malaysia is negotiating to preserve zero tariffs on semiconductor exports to the U.S. as trade discussions advance. Investment Minister Zafrul Aziz emphasized the importance of the U.S. market, currently accounting for 19% of Malaysian exports, while industry players brace for potential levies as high as 300% under proposed Trump-era policies.
The ASEAN summit may yield a critical minerals agreement, with Malaysia positioning itself as a hub for rare-earth processing to meet surging demand for EV and renewable energy components. Sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional has been tasked with forging international partnerships to strengthen downstream supply chains.