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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

BIO letter to USTR on US-Malaysia FTA
20-Jun-2006    
Letter from the US Biotechnology Industry Organisation to the US Trade Representative on intellectual property, GM labelling, biosafety, GM contamination and other issues BIO wants addressed under the US-Malaysia FTA talks.
Malaysia and America as free trade partners?
17-Jun-2006     Daily Times
The American-backed FTA is certainly not designed to serve the interest of ordinary Malaysian or American workers (it may well lead to the practice of dumping and out-sourcing instead), but it will invariably open up the Malaysian economy to the rigours and discipline of the global market.
US expects Malaysia FTA talks to conclude by year-end
17-Jun-2006     Business Times
The US is pleased with the progress of the first round of the US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, and expects it to conclude by the end of the year, after four more rounds.
Coalition on US-Malaysia FTA memorandum to the government of Malaysia
14-Jun-2006     FTA Malaysia
Given the lack of transparency and accountability in the on-going negotiations and the strong likelihood of an imbalanced outcome in the US-Malaysia FTA negotiations, we urgently call on the government to halt all further negotiations until a comprehensive cost-benefit assessment is done.
Malaysian-US FTA talks 'easier' than Thai
13-Jun-2006    
The United States and Malaysia began a first round of talks Monday to forge a bilateral free trade agreement they hope will be concluded by early next year.
US FTA a different ball game altogether
13-Jun-2006    
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between Malaysia and the United States, which kicked off yesterday (12 June 2006) on the island of Penang, were wrapped in secrecy even though the issues to be discussed have far-reaching implications for Malaysian citizens and Malaysia as a sovereign nation. Mind you, all this is unfolding within the larger context of the din, frenzy and exhilaration of the World Cup.
Malaysia says cautious on US trade deal
13-Jun-2006     AFP
Malaysia said it was proceeding cautiously with negotiations for a free-trade deal with the United States which began this week, and would not act against the national interest.
Malaysians protest against free trade talks with US
13-Jun-2006     TWN
As Malaysia and the United States began their first round of talks on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), they were confronted by a group of Malaysian protesters concerned that the agreement will cause the country more harm than good.
Malaysia, US face big task as free-trade talks kick off
12-Jun-2006     AFP
The United States and Malaysia are to embark on free-trade talks in the resort island of Penang, which are being fast-tracked with the goal of striking a deal by the end of the year.
Explain benefits of FTA first, govt urged
30-May-2006     The Star
Kedah farmers have asked the government to explain the benefits that they could gain from the USA-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) before it proceeds with discussions scheduled to be held on June 12 in Penang.