The US government’s plan to lift curbs on the export of sophisticated AI chips is “good news” for Malaysian semiconductor industry players, says investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz.
Tengku Zafrul said the US administration is currently conducting a study on the matter, a development which Malaysia welcomes.
Speaking to reporters after officiating the Malaysia Autoshow 2025 here today, he noted that industry players are also pleased with the announcement, adding that he expects more details to be announced soon.
Malaysia is a major player in the global semiconductor industry and is looking to capitalise on a surge in demand driven by the global AI explosion.
Bloomberg reported today that the Trump administration is preparing to overturn some AI chip export restrictions introduced during former president Joe Biden’s era as part of a larger effort to overhaul global semiconductor trade rules.
The ongoing policy discussion is focused on how to manage chip exports to nations outside China. Both the Biden and Trump administrations have sought to limit China‘s access to advanced semiconductors and AI technologies due to national security concerns and the potential for military use.
On the negotiations Malaysia started with the US on Tuesday in a bid to scrap the 24% reciprocal tariff imposed on the country, Tengku Zafrul said his ministry’s negotiators have had two meetings with their US counterparts so far.
“I will be meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum next week, and we will take stock of the negotiations then,” he said.
The Malaysia Autoshow 2025, organised by the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii), will run until May 15.
It features more than 200 exhibitors and has more than 500 vehicles on display, including Proton’s first public reveal of e.MAS, its new EV model.
