PUTRAJAYA: Trade negotiations between Malaysia and United States have reached “some sort of conclusion” with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim saying it is 99.99% comple.
The Prime Minister expressed optimism that any remaining issues would be resolved soon.
“The 0.01% will be resolved during the Cabinet meeting on Friday (Oct 24),” he said on Wednesday (Oct 22).
Speaking at a briefing for top editors on the 47th Asean Summit, Anwar downplayed that Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship would be outshine by the outcome of US-China trade negotiations.
“If there is some sort of progress or achievement with China and the United States, I will be happy and Malaysia should be proud that positive results were made here.
“If country leaders are using this occasion to negotiate with one another, it will be something great that happened in Malaysia,” he added.
Anwar said while “small-minded” parties would perceive that trade negotiations between other countries will outshine Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship, he believed this would not be the case.
On Oct 18, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that he and China‘s Vice Premier He Lifeng are likely to hold talks in Malaysia as part of efforts to set the stage for a meeting between their respective countries’ presidents.
Malaysia was with a 19% tariff rate on its exports to the United States.
