KUALA LUMPUR — The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) has appointed its deputy secretary-general (trade) Mastura Ahmad Mustafa as Malaysia’s chief negotiator for formal tariff negotiations with the United States (US).
The appointment follows the US’ agreement to start formal negotiations with Malaysia over US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariff, Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said.
Mastura is one of Miti’s most experienced senior civil servants, he added, and she will be negotiating with an assistant US Trade Representative (USTR) whom the US has named.
Both sides have agreed to begin talks after Malaysia’s Cabinet gives the green light Tengku Zafrul said.
“We are now waiting for Cabinet approval before proceeding…. The US side has agreed to engage, and both the USTR and Secretary of Commerce want to take this forward,” he told reporters during Miti’s open house here today.
Tengku Zafrul said among the key focus areas are reducing tariffs, addressing non-tariff barriers — particularly in agriculture — and Malaysia’s trade surplus with the US, which currently stands at US$25 billion.
“On tariffs, we aim to reduce them — not necessarily to zero, but to a level that benefits both sides.
“While for non-tariff barriers, we are identifying fair areas to consider for easing.
“As for the trade imbalance, we have already reduced it by almost half over the last four years, from over US$40 billion to US$25 billion.
The US and Malaysia will also further discuss their agreement to strengthen enforcement on technology and intellectual property rights protection, he added. – April 29, 2025