The United States has announced a 25% blanket tariff on all Malaysian products entering its market, with effect from August 1 2025, according to a letter from President Donald Trump to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim posted on Trump’s Truth Social platform.
This new tariff, one percentage point higher than the 24% rate first revealed in April, is separate from existing sectoral duties and is aimed at narrowing what Trump described as a trade deficit disparity with Malaysia.
“There will be no tariff if Malaysian companies choose to build or manufacture in the United States, and we will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely, in a matter of weeks,” Trump stated.
The letter also warned that if Malaysia retaliates with its tariffs, those rates will be added on top of the US-imposed 25%.
Following the newly introduced requirement for data controllers and data processors to appoint a data protection officer (“DPO”), the Department of Personal Data Protection has launched the DPO registration portal ( https://daftar.pdp.gov.my/v1/dpo-register), enabling organisations to formally notify the Personal Data Protection Commissioner (“Commissioner”) of their DPO appointments.
What a great afternoon was had at EQ Kuala Lumpur for AMCHAM’s 48th Annual General Meeting Luncheon!
AMCHAM Malaysia was honored to welcome H.E. Edgard D. Kagan, U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia, and Mr. Neow Choo Seong, Special Officer for International Relations, representing Deputy Prime Minister II, YB Dato’ Sri Fadillah Yusof, for an engaging and forward-looking session with our members.
With the world navigating economic uncertainty and shifting trade dynamics, the conversations throughout the day reflected a shared commitment to strengthening partnerships and embracing new opportunities — especially between Malaysia and the U.S.
In his remarks, Mr. Neow emphasized the importance of closer Malaysia-U.S. collaboration to drive innovation, digitalization, and energy transition — key pillars of long-term prosperity.
Ambassador Kagan participated in a candid fireside chat with AMCHAM Chairman Antony Lee, during which they explored a range of topics, including the future of bilateral trade, regional security, technology, and supply chain resilience.
A big thank you to both Mr. Neow and Ambassador Kagan for their time, insights, and support of U.S.-Malaysia ties. We also thank our members for their continued support in ensuring we are a strong Chamber.
🎉 Shout-out to our amazing sponsors who helped make the day a success:
- Gold Sponsors: Bank of America | Citi | McDermott | Keysight Technologies
- Silver Sponsors: Abbott | Federal Express | HSBC | NI Malaysia (now part of Emerson) | TERA | Western Digital
- Corporate Table: Liberty Insurance
- Beverage Sponsors: Coca-Cola | Berjaya Starbucks Malaysia
- Venue Partner: EQ Kuala Lumpur
Here’s to continued dialogue, stronger connections, and shared progress!
On June 30, AMCHAM hosted its 48th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the EQ Kuala Lumpur, marking another milestone in the Chamber’s journey and electing a slate of Governors for the next two-year term, 2025-27.
Outgoing Chair, Antony Lee, CEO of AIG, reflected on the strides AMCHAM has made over the years and how he looks forward to continuing his support from behind as he returns for the next term as a Governor.
The following are presented as the current slate of AMCHAM Governors:
- Antony Lee Fook Weng, CEO, AIG Malaysia
- Anushia Soosaipillai, Partner, Tax, PwC
- Adeline Wong, Partner, Wong & Partners
- Cheam Tat Inn, Managing Director, Equinix Malaysia
- Chong Aik Kean, Vice President, Foundry Manufacturing & Supply Chain, Intel Corp & Managing Director, Intel Malaysia
- Fearghal Hennesy, Vice President, Operations, Boston Scientific Medical Device
- Gautam Puntambekar, CEO, Bank Of America, Malaysia
- Naeem Shahab Khan, Managing Director, Philip Morris Malaysia
- Selvam Chinappan, Vice President & Managing Director, NI Malaysia (now part of Emerson)
- Sharon Ko Mei Wan, Managing Director & Country Lead, Analog Devices Sdn Bhd
- Datuk Timothy Tariq Garland, Director & CEO, START
- Wong Hooi Ching, CEO, JP Morgan Chase Bank Berhad
AMCHAM looks forward to continued collaboration with stakeholders to keep Malaysia globally competitive and locally responsive.
On 24 June 2025, AMCHAM Malaysia participated in a business roundtable hosted at the Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel. Represented by Dato’ Siobhan Das, Cherylanne, and Hasnul Nadzrin Shah, the AMCHAM team joined fellow business leaders and regional stakeholders for an engaging discussion on trade and investment developments across Southeast Asia.
The session touched on current developments within the Chamber, member expectations for support and engagement, and broader issues such as regional economic dynamics, updates on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), and strategies around supply chain deployment, digital transformation, and sustainability. It was a valuable opportunity to listen, exchange insights, and explore future collaboration across borders.
AMCHAM remains committed to representing the voice of business in Malaysia while engaging meaningfully with partners across the region.
The Ministry of Human Resources has confirmed that it is currently studying a proposal to raise the mandatory retirement age in Malaysia from 60 to 65 years.
Mandatory or Minimum Retirement Age
Currently, the mandatory or compulsory retirement age for civil servants (who are appointed on or after 1 January 2012) in Malaysia is 60.¹ For private sector employees, their retirement age is in accordance with the terms of their employment but subject to the minimum age of 60, pursuant to the Minimum Retirement Age Act 2012.² While it has been reported that the proposal is for raising the ‘mandatory’ retirement age, it is likely that the proposal is for raising both the mandatory retirement age for civil servants and the minimum retirement age for private sector servants, from 60 to 65 years of age.
