Malaysia unlikely to escape Trump tariffs, says former US trade negotiator

Free Malaysia Today

Stephen Olson says US president Donald Trump is ‘unlikely to bat an eye’ even if Malaysia retaliates with high tariffs.  Read More: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2025/05/09/malaysia-unlikely-to-escape-trump-tariffs-says-former-us-trade-negotiator  Laporan Lanjut: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2025/05/09/tak-mungkin-malaysia-terlepas-tarif-trump-kata-bekas-perunding-as  Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5 Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download FMT News App: Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46 App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP  #FMTNews #TengkuZafrul #DonaldTrump #Tariffs

Transcript

00:00A former U.S. trade negotiator says Malaysia is unlikely to succeed in completely eliminating the 24% tariff rate imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

00:12Stephen Olson, who represented the U.S. in negotiations for two free trade agreements, said Malaysia would have limited leverage in tariff talks,

00:20adding that Trump is unlikely to bat an eye even if Malaysia threatened the U.S. with 500% tariffs.

00:26Olson suggested that Malaysia raise additional pressure points in negotiations such as corporate or geopolitical concerns,

00:34while also highlighting how the U.S. benefits from strong trade and economic ties with Malaysia.

00:39He also said he doesn't see a scenario in which 0% tariffs are within the realm of possibility for Malaysia.

00:46The U.S. has been Malaysia's third largest trading partner since 2015,

00:50with the total trade between the two countries surging 29.9% to RM324.91 billion last year.

00:58Meanwhile, Olson said commitments to buy more U.S. products may appeal to Trump,

01:03who views trade deficits as a sign that the U.S. is losing to other countries.

01:08However, he said Malaysian trade officials would have to assess whether the cost of making additional purchases from the U.S.

01:14would outweigh the benefits of securing reduction or elimination of tariffs.

01:20On Monday, Investment Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafral Aziz said Malaysia aims to secure the removal

01:25or significant reduction of tariffs on its goods, with negotiations set to begin Tuesday,

01:31led by Masura Ahmad Mustafa, the Ministry Secretary-General for Trade.

01:35Narmthal Raja, FMT.

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