The US has agreed to consider granting tariff exemptions — specifically zero tariff rates — for several commodity products proposed by Malaysia, including palm oil and cocoa, which are expected to be finalised next month.
Malaysia’s chief negotiator for the official tariff negotiations, Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, said the US is also considering zero tariffs for furniture, automotive parts and components, as well as aerospace parts and components.
She said the US side had conveyed the matter in several prior negotiation sessions.
Mastura is the deputy secretary general (trade) of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti).
“As mentioned, we are currently in the process of detailing the agreement on reciprocal tariffs. Starting yesterday (Thursday), we have arranged several virtual sessions with the US to finalise the agreement.
“In these negotiations, the US side indicated that they are open to considering several goods which, in their view, cannot be produced domestically in the US.
“For such products, they will consider granting exemptions in the form of zero tariffs under this unilateral tariff arrangement,” she told Bernama in an exclusive interview here on Friday.
Source: theedgemalaysia