ISDS Case Map
Malaysia
The recently unveiled US-Malaysia Agreement on Reciprocal Trade—signed by Donald Trump on October 26, 2025—is not just a trade pact; it’s a high-stakes, asymmetrical deal that prioritizes US strategic interests over Malaysia’s industrial sovereignty.
Malaysia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are in the process of finalising a suitable date to begin the first round of negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA), according to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI).
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has lodged a police report against Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim regarding the Reciprocal Trade Agreement (ART) between Malaysia and the United States.
A fair pact will elude India if US bases its negotiations on deals with Malaysia and Cambodia.
China complained to Malaysia and Cambodia about the trade deals they signed with the US last month, underscoring the delicate balance countries must strike in the rivalry between Beijing and Washington.
Malaysia has no plans to renegotiate its trade deal with the US, and the government is focused on making sure all ministries follow the agreement, said Investment, Trade and Industry minister.
The Malaysia-US trade agreement is widely criticized by organizations like Sahabat Alam Malaysia and the Comsumer's Association of Penang for undermining national sovereignty, forcing Malaysia to align with US foreign policy, accept unverified US health standards, and forgo vital fiscal tools like digital taxes and border tax adjustments.
Malaysia’s government has been forced to defend its new trade deal with the US after opposition politicians, analysts and civil society groups warned that the deal was “one-sided” and could compromise the country’s sovereignty.
Malaysia and New Zealand are aiming to complete the review of the Malaysia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (MNZFTA) by the end of the year, as confirmed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit.
An early review of the texts reveals new handouts to Big Tech and other corporate interests, with little to nothing that will help working people in the US.
