MIER non-resident fellow Mohd Khairuddin Md Tahir. (Photo by Shahrill Basri/The Edge)
KUALA LUMPUR (July 24): The escalating global trade tension underscores a need to bolster intra-Asean food trade to safeguard against potential disruptions in the regional food supply chain, according to a Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) expert.
MIER non-resident fellow Mohd Khairuddin Md Tahir noted that intra-Asean trade remains low at less than 25%, highlighting an urgency to strengthen regional cooperation particularly in enhancing food security.
“We must find ways to boost intra-Asean food trade and reinforce regional food security. There’s also a growing emphasis on research and development (R&D) to support sustainable food production. For example, Thailand’s agricultural R&D capabilities are well developed and could serve as a model for the region,” he said.
“We can also explore opportunities in investment, as well as in nutrition and rural agriculture. It’s also worth noting that Timor-Leste will be joining Asean soon, opening up new avenues for collaboration in food security,” he said during his presentation at the MIER Brown Bag Talks Series, titled “A Journey Through the Looking Glass: Towards Future-Proofing Malaysia’s Food Security” here on Thursday.
He also highlighted the government’s ongoing work on the National Security Blueprint 2026-2030, which will include components on food security and emergency preparedness.
“One aspect of the plan involves establishing strategic food stockpiles to mitigate the impact of potential crises — whether it’s food price spikes in the Philippines or natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions in Indonesia,” he said.
Malaysia has urged its Asean counterparts to reduce a dependence on external trading partners by deepening intra-regional trade, as the US prepares to roll out new unilateral tariffs, set to take effect on August 1.
Malaysia was caught off guard by US President Donald Trump’s July 8 announcement of a blanket 25% import tariff on all local goods. However, Trump has since signalled that there may still be room for negotiation before the deadline.
