BERNAMA (Business News)

June 24, 2008

Malaysia-U.S FTA Negotiations Still Continues

KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 (Bernama) -- The free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between Malaysia and the United States are continuing though some issues remain to be resolved, Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Liew Vui Keong said today.

He said the FTA negotiations are expected to resume next month from July 14 to 18.

"The coming discussions are aimed at resolving the various outstanding issues," he said at a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat in response to a question from Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir (BN-Jerlun).

Liew said since the last meeting in January this year, both parties continued to negotiate through videoconferencing and the technical terms were still being discussed.

Among the issues which remained unresolved was the US insistence to include discussions on government procurement and competition policy, he said.

At present, he added, Malaysia was sticking to its stand not to discuss the competition policy and those related to the New Economic Policy and Bumiputera agenda.

-- BERNAMA