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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

Police probe circulation of anti-FTA brochures
26-Jun-2007     The Star
Malaysian police are investigating the distribution of pamphlets protesting the signing of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Malaysia and the United States.
Washington wants rice included in FTA talks with KL
8-Jun-2007    
The US Government said Malaysia must open its rice market to reach a free trade agreement, opposing the protectionist stance of the South-East Asian nation.
Malaysia and US to hold informal FTA talks
29-May-2007     FTA Malaysia
Malaysia and the US will be holding informal FTA talks to iron out various issues instead of planning for another formal round of negotiations, according to reports. Both sides last met in April in the US.
Malaysia-US FTA at technical stage, says Rafidah
8-May-2007    
Negotiations on the Malaysia-US Free Trade Agreement has reached the technical stage, the Dewan Negara was told Tuesday.
Malaysian trade talks stall on GM labelling
25-Apr-2007     FoodNavigator.com
The labelling of genetically modified (GM) goods within Malaysia has come further under the spotlight this week as the industry remains torn between its proposed bio-safety laws and free trade agreements between the US.
Fear of dumping
25-Apr-2007     The Star
Rice farmers in northern Peninsular Malaysia have another reason to call on the Government to quit the on-going Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the United States. Besides the concern over highly subsidised US rice competing with locally produced rice, there is fear of the US dumping the Liberty Link 601 (LL601) contaminated rice here.
Malaysia won't hasten FTA negotiations with US
24-Apr-2007    
Malaysia considers a free trade agreement (FTA) with the US to be "a serious concern" and that is why it does not want to be rushed into wrapping up the negotiations, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz stressed, Tuesday.
FTA: Malaysia imposes terms on data exclusivity for US pharmaceuticals
20-Apr-2007    
Malaysia has set some conditions in agreeing to the U.S. request for data exclusivity (DE) for new pharmaceutical products in the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said today.
No compromise on GM food labelling
17-Apr-2007     Sun2Surf
Malaysia will not compromise on mandatory labelling for genetically-modified (GM) foods or products in its negotiations with the US for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), according to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid.
Re-think needed on free trade pact
10-Apr-2007     Sun2Surf
It is difficult to identify what benefits the proposed US FTA holds for Malaysia. Supporters of the deal have trotted out the usual platitudes. However, large numbers of people remain unconvinced of these arguments.