U.S. President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held a crucial phone call on July 31, just a day before a 25% U.S. tariff on Malaysian goods was to take effect. Both sides moved toward reducing tariffs to as low as 15-20%, with an official announcement expected by August 1. Malaysia agreed to concessions on halal certification and rare earth mineral supplies. Separately, Malaysia mediated a Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire, with support from the U.S. and China.