Malaysia is in urgent talks with the US to prevent the implementation of a 25% reciprocal tariff on its exports, set to take effect on August 1. The proposed tariffs would impact several agricultural products, including live poultry, eggs, chicken, beef, and pork, offal, dairy, and alcohol.
Poultry and eggs
Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Zafrul Aziz identified poultry and eggs as top priorities in the negotiations. He will hold a virtual meeting with US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer to address these concerns and work toward a mutually beneficial outcome.
Mr Zafrul emphasized that Malaysia is committed to securing a deal that provides real benefits, not one made for the sake of appearances. “If the deal does not benefit Malaysia, we should not have a deal. We have to be firm on that,” he said during a press conference.
The cover a wide range of products, however, agricultural exports—particularly poultry and eggs—are now under scrutiny. These items are vital to Malaysia’s export industry, with live poultry and processed egg products forming a growing segment for trade with partners like the US and Singapore.
Finalizing trade agreements
The minister acknowledged that the delay in finalizing a trade agreement stems from the need for more time to review the specific terms. Currently, only Vietnam and the UK have finalized similar deals with the US.
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Malaysia plans to continue high-level discussions with both the US Trade Representative’s office and the US Secretary of Commerce in the lead-up to the August 1 deadline. The goal is to protect Malaysia’s agricultural exporters, especially those in poultry and egg, from unfair penalties and preserve access to international markets.
