Concluding trade talks with US early to benefit Malaysia, safeguard economy from punitive tariffs

KUALA LUMPUR: Concluding tariff negotiations with the United States (US) ahead of President Donald Trump’s October visit is crucial for Malaysia, both to safeguard billions in export value and to strengthen its position as a reliable, forward-looking trading nation, an economist said. IPPFA Sdn Bhd director and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan warned that delays in reaching a trade...

Trump floats new tariffs on China, India to squeeze Russia

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump told European officials he’s willing to impose sweeping new tariffs on India and China to push President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table with Ukraine - but only if EU nations do so as well. Trump made the ask when he called into a meeting with senior US and EU officials in...

Govt will talk to other fifth-gen jet suppliers if Kuwait buy takes too long, says Defence Minister

KUALA LUMPUR: Fifth-generation (5G) jets from France, the United States or Russia will be considered for procurement as part of efforts to replace Malaysia’s current jets by 2040, the Dewan Rakyat was told. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin said this would be considered if the delivery of F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets from Kuwait takes too...

US firms in Malaysia may escape semiconductor chip tariff, says Tengku Zafrul

KUALA LUMPUR: Investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz is hopeful that some semiconductor manufacturers in Malaysia may be exempted from the 100% tariff the US has imposed on the import of semiconductor chips. Trump, who announced the tariff yesterday, said that it would not apply to companies that were already producing semiconductor chips in the US or...

Rubio says US officials in Malaysia to help in Cambodia-Thailand talks

WASHINGTON: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (pic) said State Department officials are in Malaysia to assist peace efforts as Cambodia and Thailand were scheduled to begin talks there on Monday in hopes for a ceasefire. President Donald Trump and Rubio were engaged with their counterparts for each country and were monitoring the situation very closely,...

Is Philippines getting short end of US tariff stick? 19% rate slammed as ‘worst insult’

MANILA (SCMP): A new trade deal hailed by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr as a “significant achievement” has been slammed by critics at home as the “worst insult” after Manila secured only a one percentage point tariff cut from Washington while granting American goods duty-free access. Marcos, the first South-East Asian leader to be hosted by...

Trump piles up trade deals as Asia agrees to open up to American goods: Analysis

AUSTIN: It’s no easy feat to catch Washington’s formidable trade lobbies and relentless, scoop-hungry journalists off guard. Yet on Tuesday (July 22), US President Donald Trump managed to do exactly that. On a day when experts and analysts were poised to dissect a potential deal with the Philippines, awaited after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s visit to the...

Chip firms in Malaysia pause investment plans on tariff angst

Chip firms in Malaysia are holding back on investment and expansion as they await clarity on tariffs from the US, according to Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association President Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai. The companies are hoping that the US government would continue to exempt semiconductors from tariffs beyond Aug. 1, the deadline for higher levies announced...

Russia attacks Ukraine with 700 drones after Trump vows to send more weapons

KYIV (Reuters) -Russia targeted Ukraine with a record 728 drones overnight, shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to send more defensive weapons to Kyiv and aimed unusually direct criticism at Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian air defence units destroyed almost all the drones, including through electronic jamming systems, Ukraine's air force said on the Telegram...

China offers to be peacemaker in Iran-Israel war, but is unlikely to intervene

BEIJING (The Straits Times/ANN): As the conflict between Israel and Iran stretches beyond a week, China has found itself sidelined in developments that could yet have far-reaching consequences for its interests in the Middle East. While Beijing has offered itself as a peacemaker, it is unlikely to wade into the conflict directly, or to supply arms...