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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

US offers huge government procurement for FTA with Malaysia
3-Nov-2006     People's Daily
The United States is offering about 250 billion U.S. dollars worth of government procurement to Malaysia as the two countries is proceeding with the third round of negotiations of the US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
Malaysian and US business communities support FTA
1-Nov-2006     Bernama
The Malaysian and American business communities have announced their support for successful completion of the third round of US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (USMFTA) negotiations this week.
Anti-free trade alliance demands end to talks on US-Malaysia pact
30-Oct-2006     IHT
Dozens of placard-waving Malaysians on Monday demanded the suspension of a proposed free trade agreement between Malaysia and the United States as officials from the two countries began a new round of negotiations.
Anti-free trade alliance plans mass protest during US-Malaysia trade talks at end-Oct
19-Oct-2006     IHT
Malaysian activists Thursday announced a mass a protest during US-Malaysia talks later this month on a free trade pact, saying such an agreement could jeopardize jobs and deprive poor people of cheap, generic drugs.
Stop FTA talks and talk to the people
19-Oct-2006     Malaysiakini
Before and after every round of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, the US Trade Representative provides briefings and reports to business and industry groups in that country. Why is the Malaysian government not disclosing any information on the talks to its own people?
Groups worried over FTA with US
11-Sep-2006    
For people living with HIV/AIDS, access to anti-retroviral drugs is a crucial factor in helping them lengthen their lives.
FTAs won't stop subtle forms of discrimination
4-Sep-2006    
A reflexive response to a difficult question is to say that it's a good question. The ruse provides time for the person questioned to come up with an answer, or avoid embarrassment, or to plainly gloss it over.
M'sia among top priority countries for US in FTA negotiations
25-Aug-2006    
Malaysia is among the few countries given priority by the United States in its free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations before the expiry of the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), said US Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab.
AMCHAM M'sia denies patent provisions in US FTAs
24-Aug-2006    
The American-Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM Malaysia) Thursday refuted press reports that the US Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in Chile and Singapore seeks to extend patents for 30 to 40 years through TRIPS-Plus.
US Trade Rep 'Cautiously Optimistic' Of Mutually-beneficial FTA
24-Aug-2006    
The US Trade Representative is "cautiously optimistic" that the US and Malaysia will be able to conclude a mutually-beneficial free trade agreement (FTA) during the remaining rounds of the negotiations despite the tight deadline.