Tengku Zafrul Defends ART Agreement Move, Rejects Double Tariff Allegations

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- Former Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has dismissed claims that Malaysia has been paying close to double the tariffs imposed on other countries by the United States (US), describing the allegation as inaccurate.

Commenting on criticism from former Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, Zafrul said the 19 per cent tariff previously imposed on Malaysia is no longer in force following a decision by the US Supreme Court on Saturday, Feb 21.

“What is this about paying double tariffs? When the US Supreme Court has cancelled the tariff, it means the 19 per cent imposed on Malaysia no longer applies,” he said in a post on social media platform, X, today.

The former MITI minister also defended Malaysia’s approach in signing the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) with the US in October last year as a precautionary step amid uncertain global trade conditions.

Tengku Zafrul, who is also the chairman of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), likened the move to taking travel insurance before travelling abroad.

“People always think nothing will happen. But when you are admitted to a hospital overseas, and the bill reaches tens of thousands of ringgit, that is when you understand why paying for takaful is important. We prepare the umbrella before the rain,” he said.

According to him, Malaysia chose to take proactive action and not wait until the US court process was completed, as any delay could have resulted in the country having to negotiate under less favourable conditions.

“In today’s global trade, whoever moves slowly will pay a high price,” he said, adding that the proactive approach provides certainty to local industries and protects people’s jobs.

He added that Malaysia was not the only country to take such measures, highlighting that the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia had also reached an agreement with the US. 

“This is not a question of who talks the loudest. It is about who acts earliest to protect the country’s economy,” added Tengku Zafrul.

-- BERNAMA