- 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
25-Apr-2006
Malaysia and the US are making progress on a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), US Commerce Department Deputy Secretary David A Sampson said yesterday.
24-Apr-2006
The Malaysian government will not finalise a Free Trade Agreement with the United States until all interests and needs of the country are taken into account.
21-Apr-2006
Asia Times
A popular movement opposing government plans to negotiate a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the United States is gaining momentum in Malaysia.
19-Apr-2006
New Straits Times
If the argument that the US FTA stands to benefit Malaysia as a whole is sound, then this, we hope, can be proven by an open discussion of what the agreement will really mean to individual Malaysians, and not just corporate interests.
12-Apr-2006
Sun2Surf
A recent symposium has sent a siren call to Malaysian institutions and the public to voice their concerns against the impending signing of the US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which, the organisers said, would affect local society in many ways, from job and food security to access to affordable medication.
27-Mar-2006
AFP
Malaysian activists over the weekend launched a campaign against a planned bilateral free trade deal with the US, saying it could undermine job and food security and the nation’s economy.
22-Mar-2006
The Star
Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Wednesday warned that a free trade agreement with the United States could harm Malaysia, claiming that a similar pact signed with Japan recently has brought no benefits.
14-Mar-2006
While US ambassador to Malaysia Christopher LaFleur last week mentioned about the advantages for Malaysia should its free-trade agreement (FTA) with the US materialise, Malaysian economists prefer to look at both sides of the coin.
11-Mar-2006
US Ambassador to Malaysia Christopher J. LaFleur said it was not expected that the National Automobile Policy would become an obstacle for both countries in convening discussions on Free Trade Agreements (FTA).
10-Mar-2006
The Malaysia-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks got off to a rousing start with 18 Senators and members of the House of Representatives, both Democrat and Republican, turning up to show support.
