Beijing on 11 April increased its tariffs on US imports to 125 per cent, hitting back against US President Donald Trump’s decision to hike duties on Chinese goods to 145 per cent, raising the stakes in a trade war that threatens to up-end global supply chains.
The hike comes after the White House kept the pressure on the world’s No. 2 economy and second-biggest provider of US imports by singling it out for an additional tariff increase, having paused most of the “reciprocal” duties imposed on dozens of other countries
On 11 April, AMCHAM hosted the second session of “Digesting the Tariffs”, a timely and interactive discussion focused on the ongoing tariff developments and their implications for trade and business.
The session opened with an engaging dialogue between Dato’ Siobhan and Murray Hiebert, Head of Research at BowerGroupAsia, who joined us virtually from Washington. Their dialogue offered valuable perspectives from both the U.S. and regional lenses, setting the tone for an open-floor discussion with our members.
Members shared their thoughts, raised questions, and explored how current trade tensions are affecting business, potential regional responses, and strategies moving forward.
A big thank you to Murray and all our members for contributing to another insightful and timely session.
On 10 April, AMCHAM held its latest Members’ Briefing at the recently opened JLL Malaysia office at Menara IQ TRX. These briefings are designed to keep members informed on the Chamber’s latest initiatives and key developments impacting the business community.
Dato’ Siobhan Das, CEO of AMCHAM, shared timely updates on recent high-level dialogues, upcoming events, and the Chamber’s activities amid ongoing global trade tensions.
Members were also welcomed by Jamie Tan, Managing Director of JLL Malaysia, who shared insights into the future of work and how JLL is redefining workplace strategies. Christophe Vicic, Chief Growth Officer, expanded on the innovative design and features of their new office, highlighting trends shaping modern workspaces.
A big thank you to JLL for hosting our Members’ Briefing. We look forward to more collaborations with you in the future.
Malaysia, as this year’s ASEAN Chair, has requested for tariff issues to be discussed at the upcoming special ASEAN-US summit, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz confirmed that all ASEAN leaders have agreed to travel to the United States to meet President Donald Trump for the summit.
Tengku Zafrul stressed that ASEAN is not in favour of any retaliatory tariffs, saying the Southeast Asian bloc prefers to remain engaged with Washington. For Malaysia, he added, the country is adopting both bilateral and multilateral approaches.
ASEAN will not impose any retaliatory measures against the US tariffs, the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) said.
Instead, MITI said the ASEAN member states would seek for a constructive, non-retaliatory and forward-looking engagement with the US to address the emerging challenges from the tariff issue.
“During a Special ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Meeting, convened on April 10, the ASEAN member states were united in the opinion that retaliation is not an option.
“Hence, the Malaysian government will also continue engaging with the US to find an amicable and fair solution to the reciprocal tariff issue,” MITI said in a statement.
The Special AEM was attended by the Economic Ministers of all ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste, and ASEAN Secretary General.
KUALA LUMPUR, April 10, 2025 – Herbalife, a premier health and wellness company, community, and platform, has been at the forefront of Malaysia’s health and nutrition landscape. Through various collaborations with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and the Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM), Herbalife has positively impacted more than 5,000 students, athletes, and future health professionals in the past five years.
Steven Chin, Senior Director and General Manager of Herbalife Malaysia and Singapore, commented, “We are pleased to have formed valuable collaborations united by a shared vision of building a healthier nation. Through these partnerships, we have been able to educate, inspire, and drive positive change in health and wellness. As we look ahead to 2025 and beyond, we remain committed to spearheading initiatives that empower individuals with science-backed nutrition.”
Sports Science Collaboration with UiTM and UPM
One of its most impactful partnerships has been with UiTM, Malaysia’s largest university. Since signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UiTM’s Faculty of Sports Science & Recreation in 2021, Herbalife has championed good nutrition and balanced living through knowledge-sharing sessions and partnerships with key sports organisations like Institut Sukan Negara, the Malaysian Association of Sports Medicine (MASM), and the Malaysian Exercise and Sport Science Association (MESSA).
In 2022, Herbalife expanded its efforts by providing targeted sports nutrition education to UiTM’s professional football team and student-athletes. The ‘Soy Protein and Sports Performance’ session, led by Herbalife’s Director of Sports Performance and Education, benefited over 100 athletes and sports professionals by providing essential dietary knowledge for optimising performance.
The momentum continued in 2023 with the MASM Football Science Workshop Series, where over 100 students, athletes, and coaches benefitted from a session led by Herbalife’s Fitness Advisory Board member and Head of Strength and Conditioning for the LA Galaxy, Adam Waterson, who shared insights on elite performance training and recovery. In the same year, Herbalife launched its first-ever Entrepreneurial Programme with UiTM, equipping 80 students with business acumen and nutrition expertise.
Associate Prof Dr. YM Raja Mohammed Firhad Raja Azidin, Dean of the Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, UiTM, said, “We are delighted with our collaboration with Herbalife, which has played an integral role in advancing sports nutrition education and sporting performance within UiTM. This partnership has empowered our students and athletes with the knowledge and tools they need to excel in their sporting careers and entrepreneurial aspirations.”
In 2024, Herbalife deepened its sports science collaboration by working alongside UPM’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. A key initiative, the ‘Athletic Mindset and Data-Driven Training’ webinar connected students with global sports nutrition and performance experts, providing insights into hydration, nutrient timing, and recovery techniques.
Advancing Nutrition Science and Public Health with Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM)
Beyond academic partnerships, Herbalife has been pivotal in advancing nutritional science and public health through its collaboration with NSM. Since 2020, this partnership has enabled expert-led webinars and scientific discussions on critical nutrition topics such as the gut-brain axis and cognitive health in aging. Furthermore, Herbalife has collaborated with NSM nutritionists to publish various research articles, aligning with NSM’s advocacy for sustainable and evidence-based dietary solutions.
Since 2020, Herbalife has also sponsored the NSM Publication Prize, an initiative that recognises outstanding contributions in key areas such as functional foods, ageing, healthy eating, physical activity, dietary fibre, soya protein, and the nutritional status of the general public.
Commenting on the collaboration, the President of NSM, Associate Professor Dr Mahenderan Appukutty, said, “Our partnership with Herbalife aligns with our mission to promote, advance, and disseminate scientific knowledge of food and nutrition while encouraging healthy eating and active living among Malaysians. Through ongoing scientific discussions, we continue to foster innovation in public health nutrition, ultimately benefiting communities across the country and also the region.”
