According to US sources, the issue of government procurement remained a sticking point in the proposed Malaysia-US FTA talks. The other area which the US is looking for greater access to is financial services. Both, however, were not discussed in the last round of talks held from 14 to 18 January in Kuala Lumpur.
These two […]
Author Archive for twn
State of Play in Malaysia-US FTA
Published by January 28th, 2008 in Government Policies & Negligence and Economic Rights. 0 CommentsDear Friends and Colleagues,
RE: Malaysia-US FTA Talks Resumed
The US and Malaysia resumed formal negotiations yesterday in Kuala Lumpur for a free trade agreement, nearly a year after talks came to a deadlock over differences in a number of contentious issues which include the opening up of government contracts.
According to the US ambassador to Malaysia, the […]
Malaysia-US FTA Talks to Resume on January 14
Published by January 4th, 2008 in Economy and Economic Rights. 0 CommentsDear Friends and Colleagues,
Formal negotiations between Malaysia and the US are said to be scheduled to resume during the week of January 14 in Kuala Lumpur, according to Barbara Weisel, the US chief negotiator, adding that the US hopes to reach an agreement by the middle of the year.
The last round (the fifth) between […]
FTAs Benefit US Most
Published by September 5th, 2007 in Economy, International Affairs and Economic Rights. 0 CommentsNobel laureate and former World Bank chief economist Joseph Stiglitz believes that no developing countries should not enter into free trade agreements (FTA) with the US, as those who did have not benefited greatly from them.
In an interview with a Malaysian financial publication, Stiglitz said bilateral agreements have been a “disaster for the developing […]
TWN FTA Info: Malaysia’s GMO Labelling Stance and US Pressure
Published by June 15th, 2007 in International Affairs, Public Health and Economic Rights. 0 CommentsDear Friends and colleagues,
Re: Malaysia’s Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Labelling Stance and US Pressure
The Malaysian government recently has announced that the labeling of GM products will remain mandatory under the new Biosafety Bill, which is expected to be passed in parliament soon.
This comes in the midst of pressure by certain parties, especially in the negotiations […]
US wants rice to be included in FTA with Malaysia
Published by June 12th, 2007 in Economy and International Affairs. 0 CommentsThe US has indicated that it wants Malaysia to open up its rice market to US rice, an issue which has been a sticking point in the FTA negotiations between the two countries.
This is suggestive of US confidence in competing in the Malaysian rice market where currently a 40% tariff is imposed on imported rice […]
Malaysia and US to hold informal FTA talks
Published by May 29th, 2007 in Economy and Malaysian NGOs. 0 CommentsInside US Trade
Malaysia FTA Talks To Continue On Informal Basis, No Date Set
Date: May 25, 2007
The U.S. and Malaysia are not planning another formal round of talks for a free trade agreement as this time, and instead are hoping to make progress toward an FTA through informal talks of smaller groups of negotiators, U.S. and […]
TWN FTA Info: Recent Postings on FTA Website
Published by April 19th, 2007 in Economy, Civil Liberties and International Affairs. 0 CommentsRecent postings on FTA website
We wish to bring to your attention two recent news articles on the
US-Malaysia FTA which have been posted on the www.ftamalaysia.org website.
They are:
1. Mandatory Labelling of GMOs
The Natural Resources and Environment Minister Azmi Khalid has been quoted
in the press as saying that Malaysia has insisted in free trade talks with
the US […]
TWN FTA Info: Moratorium on Free Trade Agreements
Published by April 10th, 2007 in Corporate Social Responsibility, Economy, International Affairs and Economic Rights. 1 CommentLaura Carlsen, the Director of the IRC Americas Program examines the recently signed free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and South Korea, along with Peru, Colombia and Panama and how there is a need for an FTA freeze in the current Bush administration. She also urged for the development of a trade policy […]
Malaysia, US to hold consultations in mid-April in the US
Published by March 28th, 2007 in Government Policies & Negligence and Economy. 0 CommentsOfficials from Malaysia and the United States will be meeting in the US in mid-April for consultations on an FTA, the US Trade Representative spokesman Stephen Norton said in a statement (see below).
Both sides last held talks in Malaysia in February. After the talks, Malaysian officials declared that 58 contentious issues remain unresolved and since […]
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