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Malaysia

Malaysia says FTA deal with US cannot be completed before July deadline
17-Jan-2007 IHT
A free trade pact with the United States is unlikely to be concluded before a July 1 deadline because of differences over opening up services and Malaysian government contracts, the trade minister said Wednesday.
Rafidah skirting main FTA issues
17-Jan-2007
International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz has not addressed the main concerns surrounding the US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), claimed a regional grouping of fishermen and farmers today.
Tobacco, rice excluded in FTA negotiations with US
15-Jan-2007 The Star
Tobacco and rice are listed in Malaysia’s exclusion list in its negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with the United States.
US-Malaysia trade deal possible by March: USTR
14-Jan-2007 Reuters
The United States recognizes that Malaysia is not going to completely eliminate preference programs that reserve a substantial share of the government procurement market for bumiputra, but believes there still are ways the pact can open up that sector to more American firms.
US negotiator says more talks needed to reach FTA with Malaysia
12-Jan-2007 AP
The US and Malaysia need at least two more rounds of negotiations to overcome obstacles and reach a free trade agreement, a top American trade negotiator said Friday.
FTA kills! Stop negotiations with USA now!
12-Jan-2007 bangkit.net
It was an uncommon sight at the Bangunan Rawatan Utama, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre this morning, when 30-over anti US-Malaysia FTA coalition members suddenly gathered holding banners and placards at the outpatient unit lobby.
US FTA: Will we lose out, too?
11-Jan-2007 Sun2Surf
Other countries’ experiences and international research have proven that signing a US FTA could be a raw deal for Malaysia.
Malaysian rice farmers, activists, demand halt to free trade talks with US
11-Jan-2007 Sharewatch
The United States and Malaysia this week started a fourth round of talks for a free trade agreement (FTA), which Washington wants to complete before President George W Bush’s trade-negotiating authority expires in June. The Coalition Against the US-Malaysia FTA delivered a memorandum to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi calling on him to intervene, and urged transparency on the details and implications of the deal.
Malaysia-US FTA negotiations hit turbulence
10-Jan-2007 Aliran
Disagreements have surfaced in the third round of negotiations in November for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Malaysia and the United States. This has provided a glimmer of hope for a civil society coalition that has been actively campaigning against the FTA for fear that it could be damaging to Malaysia’s economic sovereignty and to the interests of workers, the poor and the marginalised.
US sees ’solid basis’ for Malaysia trade talks
6-Jan-2007 Daily Times
Malaysia’s initial offer to open its market to more US farm and manufactured goods sets the stage for progress next week on a proposed free trade pact, a US trade official said on Friday.
MIER: US adopts pragmatic approach in FTA talks with M’sia
4-Jan-2007 BERNAMA
The United States is adopting a pragmatic approach in its free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with Malaysia, according to a think thank.
Malaysia, Australia set no date for delayed FTA deal
2-Dec-2006 AFP
The leaders of Malaysia and Australia declined to set a date for the completion of a free-trade deal due to have been agreed by mid-2006, saying the negotiations should not be hurried.
Malaysia lays out position on FTA with US
24-Nov-2006
A statement released by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) lists out the government’s position as well as the state of play in the various areas of its negotiations on an FTA with the US.
Malaysia starts FTA negotiations with Chile
18-Nov-2006 Bernama
Malaysia is starting Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks with Chile, which will pave the way to turn the latter as the launch pad for the country’s exports to Latin American markets of 550 million people and worth US$298 billion.
Malaysia vows to guard sovereign rights in US trade talks - minister
17-Nov-2006 Forbes
Malaysia will not sign trade pacts with any country, including the United states, if it involves sacrificing the interest of the majority ethnic Malays, Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz said.
Govt urged to be careful in FTA talks with US
16-Nov-2006 BERNAMA
Umno Youth urged the Malaysian government to be careful in its negotiations with the United States over the proposed Free Trade Agreement between the two countries to ensure it is not one-sided and puts the country a loss.
Workshop on “Malaysia-US free trade agreement: Issues, implications and challenges” - summary report
15-Nov-2006 TWN
Report of a workshop jointly organized by the Third World Network (TWN) and the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) on 6 September 2006 in Kuala Lumpur. The workshop was attended by more than 100 participants representing government ministries and agencies, policy makers, NGOs, civil society groups, academics, local industries, professional bodies, trade unions, farmers and people living with HIV/AIDS.
US-Malaysia trade talks may not meet US deadline — US official
4-Nov-2006 Forbes
Malaysia and the United States have made good progress towards forging a free trade deal, but negotiations may fail to meet Washington’s deadline to sign a pact, a senior US trade official said.
US offers huge government procurement for FTA with Malaysia
3-Nov-2006 People’s Daily
The United States is offering about 250 billion U.S. dollars worth of government procurement to Malaysia as the two countries is proceeding with the third round of negotiations of the US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
Malaysian and US business communities support FTA
1-Nov-2006 Bernama
The Malaysian and American business communities have announced their support for successful completion of the third round of US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (USMFTA) negotiations this week.