PETALING JAYA: The reduction of US tariffs on Malaysian goods from 25% to 19% is a testament to the country’s credibility as a reliable economic partner and to the effectiveness of Malaysia’s diplomatic engagement on the global stage, says Nga Kor Ming.

The Housing and Local Government Minister lauded the rate revision, which he said was achieved through sustained bilateral negotiations by the Trade and Investment Ministry (Miti) and reflected the growing strength of Malaysia-US relations under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Madani government.

Nga, who is also the UN-Habitat president, said this development sent a strong signal of trust in Malaysia’s economic governance, policy reforms and commitment to fair and rules-based trade.

“The 19% rate achieved without compromising our national sovereignty underscores Malaysia’s maturity in international negotiations,” said Nga in a statement on Friday (Aug 1).

Nga stressed that progressive trade outcomes such as this will have positive ripple effects across sectors, including construction and manufacturing.

In relations to this, Malaysia’s export of furniture, lighting signs and prefabricated building materials were estimated at US$1.55bil (about RM7bil) in 2024.

“Lower tariffs can enable greater access to quality construction materials and technologies at competitive prices, supporting our goal to build smarter, greener and more liveable homes & cities,” he added.

Nga also warmly welcomed the announcement of the upcoming visit of United States President Donald Trump for the 47th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October, as announced by the Prime Minister during the tabling of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) in Parliament on Thursday (July 31).

“President Trump’s presence in KL will further cement the Asean–US partnership. Malaysia looks forward to showcasing its progress in sustainable development, people-centric governance and green urban transformation under the Madani vision,” said Nga.