TWN Info Service on Free Trade Agreements

18 July 2007


Washington Trade Daily
Volume 16, Number 141 Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Trade Reports International Group

Around the Globe
* The United States expects to complete free-trade talks with Malaysia by end-June 2008, a US trade official said yesterday according to a Reuters news service report from Kuala Lumpur (WTD, 4/23/07). Discussions between the two countries were progressing very well, Washington's lead trade negotiator for Southeast Asia, Barbara Weisel, told reporters in the Malaysian capital.

"Both sides were satisfied with the progress. Both sides are enthusiastic about trying to move the process forward and bringing to conclusion as quickly as we can," she said. "We are making good progress in many areas." Washington and Kuala Lumpur agreed in April on a plan for continuing free-trade talks after missing a March deadline to finish the pact. They have not set a date for the next round of talks.

Malaysian Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz said both sides would now meet in smaller groups to resolve outstanding issues. These include market access for 600 Malaysian products. "We have agreed on some areas but there are also areas that need further discussions," news agency Bernama quoted her as saying in Seoul, where she was leading an investment mission. The negotiations face an additional challenge after the two countries failed to reach a deal in March - a key deadline under the Bush administration's trade promotion authority, which expired at the end of June. US trade negotiators could still conclude a trade deal with Malaysia without trade promotion authority, but there is no guarantee Congress would approve the pact unchanged.