KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 — Lim Guan Eng has called on the Malaysian government to explore whether Malaysian companies can claim refunds from the United States following a court ruling that declared certain tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump illegal.
The Bagan Member of Parliament said Malaysian firms may be entitled to recover part of the estimated US$166 billion in tariffs collected by the US government since 2025 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
According to Lim, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in February 2026 that the law had been used unlawfully to impose the duties.
His statement follows confirmation by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Johari Abdul Ghani that the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) signed between Malaysia and the United States last year has been rendered null and void following the court ruling.
Lim said US courts have ruled that the government must refund all tariffs collected illegally under the law, including interest on payments made by affected companies.
“With the ART now nullified, Malaysian companies that were compelled to pay these tariffs since last year have the right to claim both a refund and interest on those payments,” he said in a statement.
He urged the Malaysian government to calculate how much of the US$166 billion in tariffs were paid by Malaysian exporters and to assist affected companies in pursuing their claims.
Lim noted that the situation has become more complex after Trump announced plans to introduce new global tariffs of 15 per cent to replace those struck down by the court, after initially proposing a 10 per cent levy on all goods entering the United States.
Whether the new tariffs comply with the legal requirements outlined in the Supreme Court’s ruling, including the need to provide valid justification, remains to be seen, he said.
“The government should tabulate the amount paid by Malaysian companies and help them seek the appropriate refunds and interest,” Lim added.
