- Negotiations
Having signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement on 10 May 2004, the US and Malaysia agreed in early 2006 to start negotiating a bilateral Free Trade Agreement. US negotiators indicated that they expected to conclude talks by the end of 2006 but that was not to be.
The Malaysian government has been putting up a fight on various issues such as government procurement (which Malaysia does not want to open to US participation) and its Bumiputra policy (giving special preferences to ethnic Malays). Social movements, on the other hand, reject the talks particularly in terms of the implications of a deal on access to medicines, intellectual property and Malaysia’s autonomy to set policies. The negotiations have stalled since 2009, and are now effectively on ice.
last update: May 2012
Photo: Third World Network
9-Feb-2026
The Malaysian Reserve
Malaysia’s government plans to do a cost-benefit analysis of its controversial trade agreement with the US, while warning lawmakers they should keep the accord despite concerns it may hurt the country.
21-Jan-2026
The Edge Malaysia
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim clarified on Tuesday that the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) between Malaysia and the US has yet to come into force, despite having been signed nearly three months ago.
21-Jan-2026
AFTINET
The recent US trade deal restricts the rights of Malaysia’s National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA), to conduct its own assessments of safety, efficacy and quality, reflecting national health needs and regulatory priorities.
5-Jan-2026
South China Morning Post
Malaysia’s new trade deal with the US opens its market to American poultry and other goods, sparking concerns over food quality, halal standards, and national sovereignty. While the agreement offers tariff benefits for Malaysian exports, critics argue it’s lopsided and may undermine local businesses and regulatory autonomy.
15-Dec-2025
The Vibes
The Malaysian government has clarified that provisions in the Malaysia–United States Reciprocal Trade Agreement do not grant unchecked access to Malaysian services markets
15-Dec-2025
Public Citizen
The recently unveiled US-Malaysia Agreement on Reciprocal Trade—signed by Donald Trump on October 26, 2025—is not just a trade pact; it’s a high-stakes, asymmetrical deal that prioritizes US strategic interests over Malaysia’s industrial sovereignty.
2-Dec-2025
Straits Times
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has lodged a police report against Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim regarding the Reciprocal Trade Agreement (ART) between Malaysia and the United States.
27-Nov-2025
The Edge Malaysia
Malaysia has no plans to renegotiate its trade deal with the US, and the government is focused on making sure all ministries follow the agreement, said Investment, Trade and Industry minister.
11-Nov-2025
Sahabat Alam Malaysia
The Malaysia-US trade agreement is widely criticized by organizations like Sahabat Alam Malaysia and the Comsumer’s Association of Penang for undermining national sovereignty, forcing Malaysia to align with US foreign policy, accept unverified US health standards, and forgo vital fiscal tools like digital taxes and border tax adjustments.
5-Nov-2025
The Guardian
Malaysia’s government has been forced to defend its new trade deal with the US after opposition politicians, analysts and civil society groups warned that the deal was “one-sided” and could compromise the country’s sovereignty.
