Tariffs, Taxes & Rising Costs: SMEs Now In Survival Mode

Starting August 1st, a new 25% US tariff on Malaysian goods threatens to hit exporters and their supply chains hard. But this is just the latest in a string of compounding cost pressures, from rising electricity tariffs to SST hikes, that are pushing many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) into survival mode.

Datuk William Ng, National President of Small and Medium Enterprises Association Malaysia (SAMENTA), joins us to break down the real-world impact of these challenges. He explains why SMEs are disproportionately affected and largely unprepared, and argues that a strategic shift is needed for them to evolve from price competitors into value creators.

We discuss:

• The true impact of the 25% US tariff on the entire SME supply chain.

• How compounding domestic costs are pushing businesses into "survival mode."

• Why SMEs must evolve from middlemen to brand and IP owners.

• The call for more targeted government support and systemic reforms.

• The opportunities and challenges for SMEs expanding within ASEAN.

  For SME owners, business leaders, and policymakers, this is an essential dive into the urgent challenges facing Malaysia's economic backbone.

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