Jakarta, April 5, 2025 – The Europe Today: Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, visited Malaysia to discuss the newly imposed import tariffs by the United States under President Donald Trump.
Hartarto met with Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, on Thursday at the Malaysian leader’s official residence. The meeting focused on addressing the implications of the US’s reciprocal tariff policy.
On the following day, Hartarto visited Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya, where they discussed the role of ASEAN in responding to global challenges, including the new US tariffs. Hartarto emphasized that Malaysia, as the 2025 ASEAN chair, should lead efforts to strengthen cooperation among ASEAN member states in light of the evolving trade policies.
Prime Minister Ibrahim expressed the importance of ASEAN support for Malaysia in boosting investment, tourism, and trade, particularly in the context of the ongoing tariff challenges. The two leaders also reviewed bilateral economic cooperation, underscoring the need for unity among Southeast Asian nations.
After meeting with Prime Minister Ibrahim, Hartarto continued his discussions with Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, Tengku Zafrul Azis. The focus of the meeting was on strategies to strengthen ASEAN’s economic resilience and trade relations, particularly in relation to the US tariff measures.
Hartarto reiterated the importance of ASEAN nations working together in response to the US policy, which has been described as reciprocal by President Trump. He emphasized the need for coordinated action and communication with the US government to protect the economic interests of Southeast Asia.
Both Hartarto and Azis reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding the economic interests of their respective countries while maintaining strong trade relations with the US. They also discussed the potential for future trade and investment framework agreements with Washington to mitigate the impacts of the tariff policy.
