NAYPYIDAW: ISSUES related to transport agreements involving the movement of trade vehicles between Asean countries are among the pending matters to be sorted out before the Dec 31 deadline to set up the Asean Economic Community (AEC).
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said Malaysia and Indonesia were among Asean countries yet to finalise their agreement to do away with import duties for liquor.
“Malaysia and Indonesia have still not agreed to the proposal for zero-duties for liquor. Malaysia’s Treasury is still studying the matter as we have to consider factors, such as the need to collect duties for revenue,” he said on the sidelines of the 25th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit here yesterday.
Despite these issues, Mustapa said Asean had implemented 84 per cent of the measures outlined under the AEC.
These measures, he said, had been implemented in the years leading up to the implementation of the AEC.
On average, the 10 Asean nations had implemented 82 per cent of efforts outlined under the Asean Economic Community Blueprint between 2008 and last year.
Malaysia has implemented 83.9 per cent of these AEC measures.
He said at least 95 per cent of the blueprint’s measures would be implemented by the end of next year.
Under the AEC, the regional bloc will adopt integrated and coherent approaches towards a single market and production base in the region, among others.
The AEC is among three pillars that make up the Asean Community that comes into effect next year, coinciding with Malaysia’s chairmanship of the regional bloc.
Mustapa said any shortfall of targets in the AEC would be incorporated in the Post-2015 Economic Vision being developed.
On misconceptions surrounding the AEC, Mustapa said Asean would not adopt the ways of the European Union, which allowed the free movement of labour across borders in the region, as each member country had different laws.
He said inter-country labour movement in Asean depended on the policies of each member state, as well as mutual recognition agreements.
Mustapa said this was one of the concerns expressed by a group of accountants that met during a conference in Kuala Lumpur recently.
“That is the difference between the EU and Asean. In the EU, an Italian doctor can practise in the UK. The EU signed an agreement for a freer flow of professionals, but Asean wants to control such things.”
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said Malaysia and Indonesia were among Asean countries yet to finalise their agreement to do away with import duties for liquor.
“Malaysia and Indonesia have still not agreed to the proposal for zero-duties for liquor. Malaysia’s Treasury is still studying the matter as we have to consider factors, such as the need to collect duties for revenue,” he said on the sidelines of the 25th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit here yesterday.
Despite these issues, Mustapa said Asean had implemented 84 per cent of the measures outlined under the AEC.
These measures, he said, had been implemented in the years leading up to the implementation of the AEC.
On average, the 10 Asean nations had implemented 82 per cent of efforts outlined under the Asean Economic Community Blueprint between 2008 and last year.
Malaysia has implemented 83.9 per cent of these AEC measures.
He said at least 95 per cent of the blueprint’s measures would be implemented by the end of next year.
Under the AEC, the regional bloc will adopt integrated and coherent approaches towards a single market and production base in the region, among others.
The AEC is among three pillars that make up the Asean Community that comes into effect next year, coinciding with Malaysia’s chairmanship of the regional bloc.
Mustapa said any shortfall of targets in the AEC would be incorporated in the Post-2015 Economic Vision being developed.
On misconceptions surrounding the AEC, Mustapa said Asean would not adopt the ways of the European Union, which allowed the free movement of labour across borders in the region, as each member country had different laws.
He said inter-country labour movement in Asean depended on the policies of each member state, as well as mutual recognition agreements.
Mustapa said this was one of the concerns expressed by a group of accountants that met during a conference in Kuala Lumpur recently.
“That is the difference between the EU and Asean. In the EU, an Italian doctor can practise in the UK. The EU signed an agreement for a freer flow of professionals, but Asean wants to control such things.”
No announcement for today.