No compromise on halal standards for US imports - Zafrul
Halal products imported from the United States must still comply with the standards set by the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
“What we have agreed with the US is to facilitate the process of importing halal products into Malaysia, but not to compromise on the halal standards,” he told a press conference today, following the US announcement of a tariff reduction on Malaysian exports to 19 percent from 25 percent previously.
Halal products imported from the United States must still comply with the standards set by the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
“What we have agreed with the US is to facilitate the process of importing halal products into Malaysia, but not to compromise on the halal standards,” he told a press conference today, following the US announcement of a tariff reduction on Malaysian exports to 19 percent from 25 percent previously.
Refuting rumours that Malaysia was compromising on halal requirements, Zafrul stressed that the government remains firm on the matter.
“The government will not budge from our stance on this issue. So we hope that no party gives a misleading impression,” he said.
No exclusive access
Zafrul further refuted claims US has requested for exclusive access to rare earth products from Malaysia.
In fact, he said, there is no request at all from the US during the tariff negotiations.
“I don’t know where it is coming from, because there are many speculations.
“But I can attest that there is no request from the US to exclusively have access to our rare earth (product),” he told a press conference when asked if the rare earth issues were raised during the negotiations.
Zafrul stressed that, in fact, there is no agreement that Malaysia has to exclusively supply rare earth to the US or any other countries, including our neighbouring countries or China.
The Lynas Malaysia Advanced Materials Plant near Kuantan is recognised as the world’s largest rare earth processing plant located outside of China.
This facility, which began operations in 2012, processes rare earth concentrate from the Mount Weld mine in Western Australia and serves customers in East Asia, the US and Europe.
Zafrul said the government is pushing for zero tariff for commodities such as cocoa, rubber and palm oil exports to the US.
He said if the US finds that those are products that they cannot produce in their country, there is a good chance those products will be exempted from the 19 percent tariff.
- Bernama
