Malaysia faces potential steel import surge amid US tariff uncertainty

[KUALA LUMPUR] The Malaysian steel industry is bracing itself for a potential influx of cheap steel imports, following the uncertainty surrounding the impact of a 25 per cent tariff on all steel and aluminium imports into the United States, said the Malaysian Iron and Steel Industry Federation (MISIF) on Wednesday (Feb 12).

The sweeping policy, recently announced by US President Donald Trump, takes effect on Mar 4. There are no exemptions for any country.

MISIF said that this move is likely to accelerate trade diversion, with Malaysia becoming a key destination for the excess steel that was previously bound for the US.