China has been a fierce critic of sweeping U.S. tariffs that Trump announced on April 2. He later delayed the implementation of most but China, which has said it will respond with its own tariffs on U.S. imports, now faces a deadline next month to negotiate a deal.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi had a "positive" meeting in Malaysia on Friday, both sides said, in an apparent bid to ease tensions between the rival powers.

Malaysia will continue negotiations with the US on a lower tariff rate despite being the only Southeast Asian country to face an opposite outcome based on US President Donald Trump’s latest announcement.

Rubio reiterates to Anwar that Malaysia remains an important US partner and Washington is keen to boost cooperation with Asean.

Malaysian chip companies are pausing investment and expansion plans as they await clearer guidance on U.S. tariff policies, according to Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association President Wong Siew Hai.

Malaysia's trade ministry on Tuesday said a 25% tariff rate on its exports to the United States was not on top of an existing base tariff of 10% imposed by Washington, clarifying earlier remarks by the country's plantations and commodities minister Johari Abdul Ghani.

The country’s electronics sector may remain relatively insulated, but other industries could be forced to adapt. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The Small and Medium Enterprises Association Malaysia (Samenta) has warned that the United States' 25 per cent tariff on Malaysian exports could deal a severe blow to small businesses. Samenta president Datuk William Ng said many export-oriented SMEs,