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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

Scientist warns of US FTA used to push GE rice
10-Apr-2007     TWN
Dr. Michael K Hansen, from US Centre of Consumer Policy, advises a cautious attitude towards an FTA with the US as the US has a hidden agenda in seeking to protect its farmers who now face more than RM4.6 billion in losses due to the lack of demand for GE rice.
Details of FTA talks cannot be revealed: Rafidah
6-Apr-2007    
Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, said details of the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiation cannot be revealed because the talks are still on-going.
Activists celebrate as Malaysia-US FTA deadline expires
1-Apr-2007     AFP
Malaysian opponents of a free-trade deal with the United States celebrated Saturday after the countries missed an end-of-the-month deadline to fast-track an agreement.
Cabinet takes stand on some issues in FTA talks with the US, says Najib
28-Mar-2007    
Malaysia's Cabinet has "made some decisions" on points of contention in the negotiations with the US on a free trade agreement (FTA), Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said Wednesday.
Malaysia-US FTA talks set to resume in mid-April
26-Mar-2007    
The Malaysia-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks are expected to resume in Washington in mid-April.
US gives up FTA deal with Malaysia before fast-track deadline
24-Mar-2007     Kyodo
The United States has given up completing negotiations for a free trade agreement with Malaysia in time for submission under President George W. Bush fast-track negotiating authority expires, a spokesman for the US Trade Representative said Friday.
Table FTA document in Parliament for debate - backbencher
20-Mar-2007    
A backbencher today called for the Malaysia-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) document to be tabled in Parliament to be debated.
Confusion surrounding FTA due to lack of understanding, says Rafidah
20-Mar-2007    
Some of the negative comments made on the Malaysia-US Free Trade Agreement negotiations have been due to a lack of understanding of the FTA and the related issues, Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said today.
Free trade deal cannot make deadline, says US
19-Mar-2007     NST
The United States government on Friday all but ruled out the chances of a free trade deal with Malaysia before a crucial deadline expires in two weeks.
KL not bound by timeframe to decide on M'sia-US FTA - Najib
18-Mar-2007    
Malaysia is not bound by any timeframe to give a decision on the issues at stake in the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks with the United States, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Sunday.