US to Reduce Tariff on Malaysian Imports

The United States will announce on Friday a reduction in the tariff rate on Malaysian goods from 25% to a range of 15% to 20%, following a phone call between President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The lower rate comes after Malaysia agreed to accept U.S. halal certification for certain products and to supply rare earth elements to the U.S., a move considered strategically significant due to Malaysia's large reserves. The bilateral discussions also followed successful peace negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia, co-organized by the U.S. and hosted in Malaysia. President Trump has confirmed he will attend the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Malaysia. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other leaders have recently been active in Asian regional diplomacy amid ongoing trade tensions with China. The final terms of the tariff agreement are expected to be announced, potentially easing economic pressures on Malaysia.