24/10/2025

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FRIDAY | OCT 24, 2025

US, China to hold high-level trade talks in Malaysia

Johari: Committee reviewing strategy to get Malaysia reclassified as ‘low risk’ under EUDR KUALA LUMPUR: The Special Committee on the Implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has studied strategies and measures that need to be implemented holistically across ministries to ensure that Malaysia can be reclassified as a low-risk country under the EUDR framework. Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the review covers the assessment of country bench marking criteria that fall under the responsibilities of various ministries. “Among the steps are the coordination of forest data reporting and enforcement of forestry-related laws by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, compliance and enforcement of laws protecting human rights, including the rights of indigenous communities, by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development. “(Also) the inclusion of sustainability elements in free trade agreement negotiations by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry,” he said at a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. He was responding to a question from Chong Zhemin (PH–Kampar), who wanted to know the ministry’s progress and achieve ments in efforts to remove Malaysia from the “standard risk” category under the EUDR. Meanwhile, Johari said the government has established a national traceability system for the palm oil sector as part of compliance with Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification, to ensure that palm oil exports are not limited to large companies only. He dicslosed that the Malaysian Palm Oil Board is in the final stages of completing the system. “Through this system, all geomaps and geolocations of each smallholder will be recorded. Large companies can purchase palm fruits from registered smallholders and include them in their traceability systems for export to European countries. “Conversely, any smallholder without a geomap or who clears new areas leading to deforestation will have their fruits excluded from this system.” Johari said this in response to a supplementary question from Bakri Jamaluddin (PN-Tangga Batu), who wanted to know about the digital support mechanisms and traceability systems being developed to ensure that smallholders are not marginalised due to the EU’s strict traceability requirements. – Bernama

WASHINGTON: The United States and China will hold another round of high-level trade talks this weekend in Malaysia to pave the way for a meeting between the presidents of the world’s two largest economies, Kyodo News Agency reported, citing US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “I’m leaving this evening. (US Trade Representative) Jamieson Greer is already on his way to Kuala Lumpur,” Bessent told Fox Business Network on Wednesday, adding that their talks with a Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier He Lifeng will take place on Saturday and Sunday at the 47th Asean Summit. Bessent said his team is hoping to iron out some differences with Chinese officials, so that the US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping “can enter their talks on a more positive note”. “It would be a shame to waste their first in person meeting during President Trump’s second term,” he said. Bessent noted that both sides are seeking to overcome some obstacles and move toward “more constructive dialogue between the US and China”.

o Delegations to iron out some differences this weekend so that American and Chinese presidents can meet ‘on a more positive note’ next week

an Asia-Pacific Economic summit next week. Bessent made it clear that Trump is now scheduled to do a pull-aside meeting with Xi then. Their fifth round of high-level trade discussions since spring comes amid a fresh flare-up in bilateral tensions. China announced new export controls on rare earth elements earlier this month, and Trump threatened to impose an additional 100 per cent tariff on goods from the Asian economic powerhouse in retaliation. Trump is set to depart later this week for his first trip to Asia since returning to the White House in January. The State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Malaysia, Japan and South Korea from Sunday to Oct 30. – Bernama-Kyodo

Trump has expressed confidence about striking deals with Xi, without providing a basis for his optimism. On Wednesday, Trump told reporters at the White House that the US will make a deal on everything, ranging from one on China’s resumption of soybean imports from the country to hopefully about nuclear dis armament. Trump suggested there will at least be an agreement on rare earth minerals. During the planned meeting, which Trump said is likely to be long, and plans to discuss with Xi how to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. “I think he can have a big influence on (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” Trump said. Trump, after visiting Malaysia and Japan, and Xi are both set to travel to South Korea for

Kagan speaking during a panel session at the US-Malaysia Digital Dialogue yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

Tariffs, trade, security expected to be discussed during Trump’s visit KUALA LUMPUR: Semiconductor tariffs, trade, investments, security and stability in the region are topics expected to be discussed during US President Donald Trump’s visit here, according to US Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D. Kagan. Trump’s visit,” he said. Kagan was responding to questions from Bernama on the sidelines of the US-Malaysia Digital Dialogue here yesterday. This marks Trump’s maiden trip to Asia since beginning his second presidency in January 2025 and the first visit to Malaysia since Barack Obama’s visit in 2015. and Sustainability”, will host the 47th Asean Summit from Oct 26 to Oct 28. The event will see the participation of top leaders from the Asean member states, along with key dialogue partners including the US, China, South Korea, Japan and India.

Asked whether any bilateral meetings would take place between Trump and other leaders during the summit, Kagan remained tight lipped but noted that whenever a US president travels abroad, it is customary for him to meet with the host, in this case Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. “So yes, and I think that we’ll have good discussions,” he said. Malaysia, which holds the Asean chair manship this year under the theme “Inclusivity

Asked about the likelihood of the US maintaining the tariff exemption for Malaysia’s semiconductor exports, Kagan said while he was not in a position to comment on the matter, he believes Malaysia is an incredibly important semiconductor partner for the US. “And I think that isn’t likely to change quickly, regardless of what happens on tariffs,” he said. On Wednesday, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said Trump is scheduled to arrive in Malaysia on Oct 26.

Apart from Trump, prominent leaders such as Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, European Council President António Costa, and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi are among more than 20 global leaders scheduled to attend the summit. – Bernama

Giving semiconductors as an example, he said Malaysia is an incredibly important partner for the US, as there have been very significant investments by American companies in this sector, especially those focused on Western supply chains. “I can tell you that there is a recognition of the important role Malaysia plays. So, tariffs are among the topics to be brought up during