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Malaysia

Out of the cage: FTA must promote fair, not free trade
5-Mar-2007 New Straits Times
I was travelling in the northern regions recently and casually asked Haji Manaf, a padi farmer and Umno stalwart in his late 50s, if he had heard of the Malaysia-United States Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which is currently being negotiated. He said he had read about it in the Malay newspapers but really didn’t understand what it was all about.
High standards of IP protection in MUFTA attracts FDI
3-Mar-2007
Malaysia is currently in negotiations with the United States for a Free Trade Agreement (MUFTA) which is expected to ease the way for attracting more foreign direct investment to Malaysia. Amongst the issues being negotiated is the strengthening of intellectual property rights (IPR) in Malaysia.
Too big a price to pay for an FTA
1-Mar-2007 New Straits Times
Letter from the Malaysian Organisation of Pharmaceutical Industries contesting the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce’s claim that that the country’s generic medicine manufacturers will do better if the Malaysia-US free trade agreement is signed.
Group calls for halt to US-Malaysia FTA negotiations
28-Feb-2007
Malaysia should stop all negotiations with the US on a free trade agreement (FTA) as it has failed to conduct an assessment on the implications of such an agreement on the people, a grouping of concerned Malaysians urged on Tuesday.
M’sia pressured to ease up on GM food regulations
28-Feb-2007 Malaysiakini.com
The Malaysian government has been urged not to bend to US pressure, under their bilateral FTA talks, to scrap its proposed laws that would bring in mandatory labeling of genetically-modified (GM) foods.
The FTA with the US: To sign or not to sign?
24-Feb-2007 Tehran Times
While there are some benefits that will accrue to Malaysia from a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, the disadvantages, it is apparent, will outweigh its advantages.
Pak-Malaysia free trade talks hit snags
19-Feb-2007 The News
The ongoing dialogue between Pakistan and Malaysia on a free trade agreement (FTA) has hit snags as the main stakeholders in the country strongly oppose the proposed 20 per cent cut in tariff on the import of palm oil as demanded by Malaysia.
Questions over FTA with the US
15-Feb-2007 New Straits Times
Will the bilateral free trade agreement between Malaysia and the US be signed?
Rafidah: Distributive trade guidelines an issue with the US
14-Feb-2007 The Edge Daily
Malaysia’s controversial guidelines on foreign participation in the distributive trade sector are one of 58 outstanding issue in the ongoing free trade talks with the United States.
Malaysia, US free trade talks bog down
10-Feb-2007 AFP
Talks for a free trade agreement between the US and Malaysia are bogged down in sensitive issues and are unlikely to meet a crucial deadline to forge to deal, according to a senior US official.
Malaysia, US to take contentious issues ’off the table’
9-Feb-2007 Business Times
Malaysia and the US have agreed to take contentious issues "off the table" in their ongoing (free trade agreement) FTA negotiations, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said.
FTA - The poor fear for their future
8-Feb-2007 Malaysiakini
A 52-year-old rubber tapper from Semenyih rode on a bus for more than an hour to bring his concerns to the doorstep of the United States embassy in Kuala Lumpur today.
GPKK demonstrates against FTA outside US Embassy
7-Feb-2007 Bernama
The Coalition of Factory Workers and Trade Unions (GPKK) demonstrated for half-an-hour outside the United States embassy, here Wednesday to protest against the on-going Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiation which it claimed violated the rights of the lower-income group.
Malaysia: Iran deal clouds free trade plans with US
7-Feb-2007 IPS
A free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and Malaysia, in its final round this week, has run into opposition from trade unions and also from U.S. lawmakers opposed to an energy deal struck between this country and Iran.
Malaysia Attorney-General defends generic medicines before UN rights body
6-Feb-2007 3D
Malaysia’s Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani has publicly stated his country’s stand "that generic drugs should not be restricted in any manner". Implying that a US-Malaysia FTA could result in more expensive drugs, he said that Malaysia is not going to negotiate on this issue, and added “we are providing the drugs for free.”
US targets Malaysia in drive to sign Muslim countries to free trade agreement
4-Feb-2007 Media Monitors Network
FTAs are increasingly being regarded by many countries as Washington’s economic analogue of a nuclear bomb.
Malaysia threatens to halt FTA talks with US after call to scrap Iran deal: report
2-Feb-2007 IHT
Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz told Washington to stay out of Malaysia’s affairs and warned the government will not bow to any threats, the Malay-language Utusan Malaysia reported. "I am ready to advise the government to cancel the FTA discussions immediately," she was quoted as saying.
US asked to suspend free trade talks with Malaysia over Iran deal
1-Feb-2007 Channel News Asia
A key US lawmaker on Wednesday called on the administration of President George W Bush to suspend free trade talks with Malaysia in protest over its mega energy deal with Iran.
Malaysian, US unions oppose trade deal
30-Jan-2007 AP
Labor unions in Malaysia and the United States said Monday they opposed a free trade agreement between their two countries unless it incorporated mechanism to protect labor and social rights.
Textile FDI shifting from China to M’sia
23-Jan-2007 The Edge Daily
Foreign direct investments are shifting back to Malaysia from China, at least in the textile industry, with some multinationals planning to relocate their operations ahead of the signing of the Malaysia-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA).