The White House has announced a series of trade and commercial deals between the United States and Malaysia during President Donald Trump’s attendance at the 13th US-ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
One agreement calls for Malaysia’s removal or reduction of tariffs on nearly all U.S. imports, as well as lifting non-tariff barriers on U.S. agricultural and industrial goods, according to a White House fact sheet on Trump’s activities during the summit.
The agreement will end Malaysian discriminatory regulations against U.S. motor vehicles, and Kuala Lumpur will recognize U.S. standards for agricultural products, thereby easing American farmers’ and manufacturers’ access to the country’s market.
Natural Gas, Coal Supply to Malaysia
The major commercial agreements that Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced include a multi-year purchase of U.S. natural gas by Malaysia’s state-owned Petronas, valued at up to $3.4 billion annually. Other deals cover $42.6 million annual U.S. coal sales to TNB Fuel in Malaysia and $119 million purchase of U.S. telecommunications and services.
In addition, Malaysia will purchase 30 Boeing aircraft, with an option to add 30 more. Malaysian firms are also committed to purchasing U.S. semiconductors, aerospace components and data center equipment worth an estimated $150 billion.
To boost supply chains, Washington and Kuala Lumpur signed a memorandum of understanding on exploration, extraction, manufacturing and recycling of critical minerals.
Trump and Ibrahim also announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, along with agreements to enhance maritime security and cooperate in space exploration under the U.S.-led Artemis Accords.