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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday that Malaysia will aggressively seek to build trade relations with other major world powers, including China, Russia, and Brazil, instead of waiting for the US to potentially impose tariffs.

 

During his parliament address on Tuesday, Ibrahim said that uncertainty remains despite President Trump’s 30-day pause on tariffs on Canada and Mexico, with US tariffs on China set to come into effect after Tuesday midnight.

 

“On our part, we must take proactive steps … to aggressively open a wider network of trading partners,” Anwar said.

 

Following suit, the French president said the European Union is “a power that stands its ground” and that the 27-nation bloc “would have to make itself respected” if the US hits it with tariffs.

 

Also read: China’s calm response to US tariffs signals trouble for chipmakers
 

Macron also said Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on EU goods are “pushing Europeans to be more united, more active in addressing their collective security challenges.”

 

Meanwhile, EU leaders on Monday agreed at a summit in Brussels to do more to bolster their defence against threats, including Russia, by hiking spending to fill gaps in the defence and military capabilities.

 

“A lot has been done already but we need to do more. We need to do it better, stronger, and faster, and we need to do it together,” said Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council of EU leaders, without explaining how the surge would be paid for.

 

Furthermore, the trade war has sent EU leaders scrambling to avoid friction with the US under Donald Trump’s administration, who are seeking to maintain good relations with the US.

 

The Donald has repeatedly asked EU states to increase their defence spending by at least earmarking 2 per cent of the annual defence budget towards NATO.

 

The majority of the EU states are struggling to contain the increasing gas prices, which shot up following the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022.

 

Subsequently, the EU and NATO members are reportedly seeking to remove adamant Zelensky as he continues occasional attacks on Europe’s only lifeline, the Nord Stream I and II gas pipelines coming from Russia.