Navigating localised trade regulations in a global economy​

Customs and international trade​

indirect-tax

Building resilience into your trade operations​

In Malaysia’s connected trading economy, the rules of customs and international trade shape costs, compliance, supply chains, and market access. A shift in regulation, a new tariff, a change in indirect tax policy, or a moment of geopolitical disruption—any of these can affect how goods move.​

Treating trade as a strategic function helps you respond faster. Whether you’re a multinational operating in Malaysia, an importer, exporter, or manufacturer, staying agile is key to managing customs requirements, duty exposure, trade agreements, and supply chain changes.​

Our technology-enabled approach brings together analytics, automation, and deep trade expertise to modernise the full spectrum of your trade operations—from classification, valuation, and origin management to documentation, controls, risk reviews, and duty optimisation. By centralising trade data and applying practical insights, we help you move from reactive compliance to proactive decision-making.​

The pressure’s constant. But with the right strategy, you can turn complexity into clarity—and protect your margins in the process.​

Providing value in customs and international trade​

Our team helps you reduce trade costs and turn compliance into a seamless part of your operations— not a separate burden.​

Cost reduction/Duty mitigation​

We offer a wide range of services including:​ 

  • Duty drawback​
  • First sale for export​
  • Tariff impact assessments​
  • Customs audit support and defence​
  • Value chain transformation​
  • Foreign trade zones​
  • Free trade agreements​
  • Alternative valuation​
  • Tariff classification engineering​

We assist your business in uncovering cash savings, mitigating tariffs and duty impacts, and optimising trade processes for greater profitability. By implementing strategies like these, your company can ensure compliance while significantly lowering operational costs in the global market.​

Customs and trade managed services​

Let us take on your customs-related processes. We streamline the complexities of global trade while helping you to comply with evolving regulations, improve operational effectiveness, and reduce disruption, delays, and costs. ​

By leveraging our knowledge, experience, and technology, you can achieve greater efficiency, quality, and consistency while focusing on your core business

Import and trade operations​

We offer a wide range of services including:​ 

  • Reconciliation​

  • Broker escalation​

  • Harmonised system classification​

Our approach focuses on three key pillars: value, origin, and classification—while identifying opportunities to mitigate duty exposure through applicable exemptions. With comprehensive guidance across reconciliation and post-summary corrections, supported by technologies such as Origin Compliance, our proprietary global trade management platform, your company can maintain regulatory compliance and improve operational control. Accurately determining value, verifying origin, and classifying goods correctly will help minimise errors and delays, ensuring smooth import operations.​

Export sanctions​

We offer a range of services including:​ 

  • Controls / licenses​

  • Export permits​

Our guidance helps your business to navigate export controls and sanctions with confidence, while ensuring compliance and efficiency in international trade operations. This enables your company to mitigate risks, allowing you to focus on expanding your global market presence.​

Strategy and governance​

We offer a wide range of services including:​ 

  • Dispute resolution​

  • Customs controversy​

  • Post-deal integration​

  • Financial due diligence​

We help you turn compliance into a strategic asset by reinforcing governance frameworks and identifying ways to enhance supply chain resilience and lower costs, including tariff exposure. With support in valuation, policy consulting, training, and risk assessment, we enable your business to navigate global trade with greater confidence while securing a competitive edge.​

Cost reduction/Duty mitigation​

We offer a wide range of services including:​ 

  • Data analytics with Customs data​

  • SAP Global Trade Services (GTS) / Oracle Global Trade Management (GTM)​

Leverage advanced technology and data analytics to streamline compliance processes and identify actionable insights for your trade and supply chain activities. By automating workflows and integrating key systems, your business can enhance operational efficiency while reducing compliance risks in the global trade environment.​

Insights

Global perspective: PwC’s Policy on Demand trade insights

Providing in-depth insights and analysis on trade policy developments that impact your business.

Regional regulatory insights: Trade Intelligence Asia Pacific​

For almost three decades, our market-leading Trade Intelligence Asia Pacific consolidates regulatory developments from around the region so that readers can stay on top of the latest requirements affecting their business.​

Subscribe today​

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Contact us

Raja Kumaran

Raja Kumaran

Tax Director, Indirect Tax, PwC Malaysia

Tel: +60 (3) 2173 1701

Chandrasegaran Perumal

Chandrasegaran Perumal

Director, Tax, PwC Malaysia

Tel: +60 (3) 2173 3724

Geeta Balakrishnan

Geeta Balakrishnan

Director, Tax, PwC Malaysia

Tel: +60 (3) 2173 1652

Annie Thomas

Annie Thomas

Director, Tax, PwC Malaysia

Tel: +60 (3) 2173 3539

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