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  1. Negotiations

Malaysia


Compared to its neighbours in Southeast Asia, Malaysia was late to get on the FTA train. But now it does not want to be left out of the major deals, it seems.

Malaysia signed its first FTAs with Japan in 2005. In 2007, it signed with Pakistan. It also has FTAs with Chile (2010) , India (2011) and New Zealand (2009), It has been in FTA talks with the US, but these have effectively been shelves since 2009. It is in negotiations with Australia, and may commence negotiations with the GCC and EFTA.

As member of ASEAN, it is also party to the agreements with China, India, Korea and Japan, and the negotiations with Australia/New Zealand and the EU.

last update: May 2012
Photo: MTUC

Malaysia, Japan fail to break FTA deadlock over autos, steel - official
19-May-2005     Forbes
Malaysian and Japanese officials have yet to resolve differences over the auto and steel sectors which are seen as major obstacles to progress towards a free trade agreement (FTA), Agence France-Presse reported, citing an official familiar with the talks.
Rafidah wants private sector to continue to be proactive in FTA, WTO processes
8-May-2005    
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz wants the Malaysian private sector to continue to be proactively engage in the country's Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) processes.
Abdullah says FTA with Pakistan can spur bilateral trade
6-May-2005    
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Malaysia and Pakistan can spur faster growth in bilateral trade and investments.
PM confident M'sia-Pakistan FTA will be sealed year-end
5-May-2005    
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is confident the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Malaysia and Pakistan will be sealed by the end of the year.
Pakistani PM Shaukat arrives in KL for FTA talks
5-May-2005    
The proposed Malaysia-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) moves closer to becoming a reality with Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's arrival here today to talk terms.
Japan-Malaysia economic pact may be signed in December
23-Apr-2005     The Star
Malaysia and Japan are close to agreeing in principle the issues related to trade talks and other matters negotiated under the Japan-Malaysia Economic Partnership Agreement (JMEPA).
Envoy: Aussies looking at Malaysia favourably
17-Apr-2005    
Australian companies, which previously shied away from Malaysia fearing that political differences between their governments would hinder business, are now looking at the country favourably.
Howard opens Malaysian trade talks
8-Apr-2005    
Australia and Malaysia are to begin formal negotiations on a bilateral trade deal as part of efforts to improve their sometimes tense relations. The negotiations were announced in Canberra yesterday after talks between John Howard, Australia's prime minister, and Abdullah Badawi, the first Malaysian prime minister to visit the country in more than 20 years.
FTA with New Zealand by end of this year
7-Apr-2005    
Malaysia and New Zealand have rescheduled the signing of a free trade agreement to the end of the year, six months ahead of the June 2006 deadline announced on Thursday.
Australia-Malaysia FTA set to go-ahead
6-Apr-2005    
Australia and Malaysia will give the green light to start talks for a free trade deal as Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi makes his first official visit to Australia.