MPU3343 Malaysia Economy Individual Written Assignment | UCSF

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. This is a individual written assignment.
2. Students must adhere to all provided instructions, formatting requirements, guidelines, and the assessment rubric.
3. The assessment will evaluate the student’s ability to effectively communicate their understanding of the topic through their written work and demonstrate achievement of the specified learning outcome.
4. The assignment consists only 1 question and should not exceed 1500 words, excluding references.
5. This assignment accounts for 10% of your total assessment.

QUESTION 1

Imagine the following scenario in a global business simulation:

• BHTM (representing the United States) imposes a new tariff on imported palmbased beauty products from BEN (representing Malaysia) due to concerns over market protection and domestic competition.
• At the same time, BBA (representing another affected country like Indonesia or Thailand) also exports similar products to BHTM and faces the same tariff.

Your Task:

1. Explain the concept of a tariff using this scenario. What does it mean when BHTM imposes a tariff on BEN’s products?
2. Analyze how the tariff affects:

o  BEN’s export business and economy
o BHTM’s consumers and domestic producers
o BBA’s position as another affected exporter

3. Discuss the diplomatic strategies BEN could use to respond to this situation. Could negotiations, trade deals, or alliances shift the balance? What roles do international bodies (like the WTO) play in such cases?
4. In your opinion, is the tariff justified from BHTM’s perspective? Support your argument with examples or economic reasoning.

Instructions:

• Use real-world parallels (e.g., US tariffs on palm oil or steel) to support your answers.
• Your answer should demonstrate a clear understanding of trade policies, diplomatic responses, and the interconnectedness of countries in global trade.