KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia is not legally obligated to seek the United States’ approval before signing a digital trade agreement with other nations, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said today.

Speaking at a press conference, Tengku Zafrul stressed that the newly signed reciprocal trade agreement does not infringe on Malaysia’s sovereignty to enter into digital trade pacts with countries that are not aligned with the US.

He was commenting on Article 3.3 of the agreement, which states that Malaysia shall consult with the US before entering into a new digital trade agreement with another country that jeopardises essential American interests.

“We have discussed this. So, it is not mandatory. It is just consultation,” he told reporters after attending the Asean-US Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here today.

“We will not sign something that will affect our national sovereignty,” he added.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and US President Donald Trump signed a reciprocal trade pact and elevated Malaysia–US bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) on Sunday.

Tengku Zafrul said the trade deal could serve as a template for other Asean member states with similar aspirations to strike tariff agreements with the Trump administration.