AS we are just days away from Aug 1, 2025, the effective date when Malaysian exports to the United States will be subject to a 25% tariff rate, it is still a guessing game as to how negotiations between Malaysia and the United States will unfold and whether we will get a better deal or maintain the status quo.

For Malaysia, what is at stake is not just the final rate we will eventually settle on, but also what we are willing to sacrifice to secure a lower rate, as seen with countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia in the Asean region, and Japan, which has a revised rate of 15%.