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  1. Negotiations

US-Malaysia


Having signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement on 10 May 2004, the US and Malaysia agreed in early 2006 to start negotiating a bilateral Free Trade Agreement. US negotiators indicated that they expected to conclude talks by the end of 2006 but that was not to be.

The Malaysian government has been putting up a fight on various issues such as government procurement (which Malaysia does not want to open to US participation) and its Bumiputra policy (giving special preferences to ethnic Malays). Social movements, on the other hand, reject the talks particularly in terms of the implications of a deal on access to medicines, intellectual property and Malaysia's autonomy to set policies. The negotiations have stalled since 2009, and are now effectively on ice.

last update: May 2012

Photo: Third World Network

Malaysia threatens to halt FTA talks with US after call to scrap Iran deal: report
2-Feb-2007     IHT
Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz told Washington to stay out of Malaysia's affairs and warned the government will not bow to any threats, the Malay-language Utusan Malaysia reported. "I am ready to advise the government to cancel the FTA discussions immediately," she was quoted as saying.
US asked to suspend free trade talks with Malaysia over Iran deal
1-Feb-2007     Channel News Asia
A key US lawmaker on Wednesday called on the administration of President George W Bush to suspend free trade talks with Malaysia in protest over its mega energy deal with Iran.
Malaysian, US unions oppose trade deal
30-Jan-2007     AP
Labor unions in Malaysia and the United States said Monday they opposed a free trade agreement between their two countries unless it incorporated mechanism to protect labor and social rights.
Textile FDI shifting from China to M'sia
23-Jan-2007     The Edge Daily
Foreign direct investments are shifting back to Malaysia from China, at least in the textile industry, with some multinationals planning to relocate their operations ahead of the signing of the Malaysia-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
US unions oppose free trade with Malaysia
22-Jan-2007     IPS
Trade unions from the United States have joined forces with their Malaysian counterparts to strongly oppose ongoing negotiations for bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) until workers' concerns are first addressed.
Malaysia says FTA deal with US cannot be completed before July deadline
17-Jan-2007     IHT
A free trade pact with the United States is unlikely to be concluded before a July 1 deadline because of differences over opening up services and Malaysian government contracts, the trade minister said Wednesday.
Rafidah skirting main FTA issues
17-Jan-2007    
International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz has not addressed the main concerns surrounding the US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), claimed a regional grouping of fishermen and farmers today.
Tobacco, rice excluded in FTA negotiations with US
15-Jan-2007     The Star
Tobacco and rice are listed in Malaysia's exclusion list in its negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with the United States.
US-Malaysia trade deal possible by March: USTR
14-Jan-2007     Reuters
The United States recognizes that Malaysia is not going to completely eliminate preference programs that reserve a substantial share of the government procurement market for bumiputra, but believes there still are ways the pact can open up that sector to more American firms.
US negotiator says more talks needed to reach FTA with Malaysia
12-Jan-2007     AP
The US and Malaysia need at least two more rounds of negotiations to overcome obstacles and reach a free trade agreement, a top American trade negotiator said Friday.