- Negotiations
Compared to its neighbours in Southeast Asia, Malaysia was late to get on the FTA train. But now it does not want to be left out of the major deals, it seems.
Malaysia signed its first FTAs with Japan in 2005. In 2007, it signed with Pakistan. It also has FTAs with Chile (2010) , India (2011) and New Zealand (2009), It has been in FTA talks with the US, but these have effectively been shelves since 2009. It is in negotiations with Australia, and may commence negotiations with the GCC and EFTA.
As member of ASEAN, it is also party to the agreements with China, India, Korea and Japan, and the negotiations with Australia/New Zealand and the EU.
last update: May 2012
Photo: MTUC
17-Apr-2005
Australian companies, which previously shied away from Malaysia fearing that political differences between their governments would hinder business, are now looking at the country favourably.
8-Apr-2005
Australia and Malaysia are to begin formal negotiations on a bilateral trade deal as part of efforts to improve their sometimes tense relations. The negotiations were announced in Canberra yesterday after talks between John Howard, Australia’s prime minister, and Abdullah Badawi, the first Malaysian prime minister to visit the country in more than 20 years.
7-Apr-2005
Malaysia and New Zealand have rescheduled the signing of a free trade agreement to the end of the year, six months ahead of the June 2006 deadline announced on Thursday.
6-Apr-2005
Australia and Malaysia will give the green light to start talks for a free trade deal as Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi makes his first official visit to Australia.
31-Mar-2005
The government wants to fast track a newly emerged free trade agreement proposal with Malaysia, getting it done within a year.
29-Mar-2005
New Straits Times
India and Malaysia are on the verge of signing a comprehensive economic co-operation agreement by year-end. It will include free trade between the two nations.
13-Mar-2005
IHT
Malaysia is joining a long and growing list of Pacific nations rushing to sign free-trade agreements with their biggest trading partners.
10-Mar-2005
Australia will be hosting a conference on the Australia-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement on March 10 in Melbourne. The conference, which is organised by Monash University, is supported by the Australian Government.
20-Feb-2005
Malaysia has decided on several fresh moves in Pakistan’s favour, including agreeing to accept it as a source country for labour.
27-Jan-2005
Bernama
Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz has called on the private sector to give their input and help the government in formulating free trade agreements (FTAs).
