Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said Malaysia has reiterated its stance to defend the country's halal standards during tariff negotiations with the United States, even though the process is considered complex and challenging.
He said among the issues raised by Washington was Malaysia's halal certification, which is seen as a non-tariff barrier.
However, the Cabinet has decided that Malaysia's halal standards are a 'red line' that must be defended and that is what MITI is doing.
According to Zafrul, although Malaysia has agreed to facilitate the import process for certain halal-certified products, the country remains steadfast in defending world-class halal standards.
He said this when delivering his speech at the opening of the Global Halal Summit (GHAS) 2025, held in conjunction with the Malaysia International Halal Exhibition (Mihas) 2025, on Friday.
He explained that the halal industry is not just a national or bilateral issue, but rather involves a global market with more than two billion Muslims worldwide.
With the global halal market currently valued at $3.5 trillion (RM14.74 trillion) and expected to reach $5 trillion by 2030, multi-stakeholder collaboration in the halal industry is a necessity.
He added that social and economic development will also shape the world and determine the collective future. Therefore, strengthening the Islamic world in terms of economy, sustainability and inclusiveness is essential to ensure that the voice of Islam is heard more on the global stage.
