Tengku Zafrul Refutes Claims On Exclusive Rare Earth Deal For US

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has refuted claims that the United States (US) has requested for exclusive access to rare earth products from Malaysia.

In fact, he said, there is no request at all from the US during the tariff negotiations.

“I don’t know where it is coming from, because there are many speculations.

“But I can attest that there is no request from the US to exclusively have access to our rare earth (product),” he told a press conference when asked if the rare earth issues were raised during the negotiations.

Tengku Zafrul stressed that, in fact, there is no agreement that Malaysia has to exclusively supply rare earth to the US or any other countries, including our neighbouring countries or China.

The Lynas Malaysia Advanced Materials Plant near Kuantan is recognised as the world's largest rare earth processing plant located outside of China. 

This facility, which began operations in 2012, processes rare earth concentrate from the Mount Weld mine in Western Australia and serves customers in East Asia, the US and Europe.

Meanwhile, Tengku Zafrul said the government is pushing for zero tariff for commodities such as cocoa, rubber and palm oil exports to the US.

He said if the US found that those are products that they cannot produce in their country, there is a good chance to be exempted from the 19 per cent tariff.

-- BERNAMA