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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

MTMA optimistic on govt's free trade agreement with US
15-May-2006    
The Malaysian Textile Manufacturers Association (MTMA) is optimistic on the International Trade and Industry Ministry's effort to launch a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States (US).
US food based firms to use M'sia as Asian hub
12-May-2006     Bernama
Several US-based food producing/processing companies have identified Malaysia a key market in Asia and are considering setting up a physical presence here, said agriculture counsellor of the United States Embassy, Malaysia and Singapore, Jonathan Gressel.
Malaysia not bound to finalise FTA with US by 2007
11-May-2006     Bernama
Malaysia's International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz cited the financial sector as one area that Malaysia cannot open up at a faster pace. She noted that it was the US -- not Malaysia -- which made the approach on the FTA.
M'sian govt taking strong stand on IPR protection
9-May-2006    
The Malaysian Government is taking a strong stand on the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), says International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz.
Malaysia, US making progress on proposed FTA
25-Apr-2006    
Malaysia and the US are making progress on a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), US Commerce Department Deputy Secretary David A Sampson said yesterday.
No FTA if US interferes in country's policies
24-Apr-2006    
The Malaysian government will not finalise a Free Trade Agreement with the United States until all interests and needs of the country are taken into account.
Malaysians question US free-trade deal
21-Apr-2006     Asia Times
A popular movement opposing government plans to negotiate a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the United States is gaining momentum in Malaysia.
What people want is fair trade, not free trade
19-Apr-2006     New Straits Times
If the argument that the US FTA stands to benefit Malaysia as a whole is sound, then this, we hope, can be proven by an open discussion of what the agreement will really mean to individual Malaysians, and not just corporate interests.
NGOs push panic button on FTA
12-Apr-2006     Sun2Surf
A recent symposium has sent a siren call to Malaysian institutions and the public to voice their concerns against the impending signing of the US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which, the organisers said, would affect local society in many ways, from job and food security to access to affordable medication.
Malaysian activists launch campaign against free trade deal with US
27-Mar-2006     AFP
Malaysian activists over the weekend launched a campaign against a planned bilateral free trade deal with the US, saying it could undermine job and food security and the nation's economy.