TWN Info Service on Free Trade Agreements

24 January 2008


Rafidah: No Deadline to Conclude Malaysia-US FTA

Malaysia will not be bound by any deadline to conclude the Malaysia-US FTA, says Minister of International Trade and Industry Rafidah Aziz.

The US, at the conclusion of the sixth round of talks between the two countries last week, said it hoped to reach an agreement by the summer (mid-year) before the new administration takes over office. The US presidential elections in scheduled to be held in November.

Last week’s talks covered four issues -- investment, goods and services, intellectual property and legal issues. No decision was made on the date and venue of the next round of talks.


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No Need For Deadline To Conclude Malaysia-US FTA, Says Rafidah

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is in no hurry to conclude a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States by this summer as it wants both sides to arrive at agreeable terms, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said on Thursday.

"It is not important for us that there must be a deadline because this has to be an FTA both sides are happy with," she said when asked to comment on remarks by US chief negotiator Barbara Weisel on the FTA last week.

Weisel, who was here for the sixth round of the US-Malaysia FTA negotiations, warned that if an agreement could not reached by summer, ahead of the US election on November 4, it would be difficult to "see a new administration" wanting to conclude it.

Insisting on the re-inclusion of government procurement in the negotiations, which Malaysia had opposed, Weisel stressed on the need for a follow-up meeting.

Speaking to reporters after delivering a keynote address at the 10th Malaysia Strategic Outlook Conference 2008 here, Rafidah said it was not necessary to meet the deadline to conclude the talks as long as both sides are satisfied with the outcome.

"They (the US) have decided to focus on issues that can be managed. I'm glad that they are moving forward," she said.

"Whatever issues that can be cleared first, they have cleared. We don't have to meet again."

Asked on the latest situation regarding the talks, Rafidah said Malaysia would only achieve what it expected from the negotiations if it could get what it wanted at the highest level possible.

The same applies for the US, she said.

"This is the stage where we are at now. To find the most satisfactory level of achievement on our requests and our offers," she added.

-- BERNAMA