SINGAPORE, June 3 (Bernama) — The next round of negotiations on the EU-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to resume in the fourth quarter, says Ambassador & Head of Delegation of the European Union to Malaysia, Luc Vandebon. He said both sides are working to resume the process as soon as possible. “Recently an informal video conference was held between my colleagues in Brussels and the Ministry of International Trade & Industry where both sides reaffirmed their interest to further discuss and negotiate on the proposed FTA. “After such a long break, the EU and Malaysia need to compare notes and take stock on the various issues, to verify if we are in sight of each other. If this “stock taking” process goes well, as I think and hope, then we will be in a position to resume the negotiations, maybe in autumn,” he said in response to Bernama in an email interview. The Technical Working Groups of the negotiating teams met in Kuala Lumpur last...

PETALING JAYA (July 11, 2013): The Malaysian ceramic industry has come out in support of the government’s initiatives to spur the growth of exports through the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement, despite the dissatisfaction expressed by some quarters of the business community on the TPP talks. The FMM Malaysian Ceramic Industry Group (MCIG) chaired by Raja Datuk Abd Aziz Raja Muda Musa, who is also Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) vice-president, views Malaysia’s participation in the TPP as positive. FMM MCIG said in a statement yesterday that the ratification of the TPP would be particularly beneficial should it give wider access into the US market, adopt rules of origin (ROO) to minimise abuse and facilitate and expedite dialogue on standards conformance between partners. “The FMM MCIG would therefore urge the government to pursue the above items diligently during its negotiations on the TPP agreement,” it said. Malaysian exports of...

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) — The Trans- Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, which involves 12 countries, will not be signed in October as what was intially expected as there are many areas which have not been agreed on. Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) secretary-general, Datuk Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, said the TPP negotiations were talks among equals and even if one party did not agree, there was no conclusion to the agreement. “The most important thing is that we will not compromise Malaysia’s sovereignty and that we will stick to our policy. “We use negotiating skills to exclude areas that impact on sovereignty,” she said at the Young Entrepreneur Organisation of Malaysia forum and dialogue on the TPP here Monday. In October 2010, Malaysia joined as a party to the TPP negotiations. Sta Maria said Malaysia chose to participate in the TPP negotiations at an early date so as to understand what was going on in the process of the...

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) — Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI), an agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dassault Systemes to collaborate in harnessing the industry’s collective intelligence. Through the MoU, Dassault Systemes — a 3D design software, 3D digital mock up and product lifecycle management solutions company, launched an automotive apps via MAI Social Networking Platform to enhance productivity and user-experience for industry professionals based on the 3DExperience platform. MAI Chief Executive Officer Madani Sahari said the collaborative social innovation platform would serve as a medium for professionals to discuss and gain information on the latest updates in the automotive industry. “As the focal point for the automotive industry in Malaysia, we plan to establish a dedicated centre of excellence to encourage learning, research and development and the adoption of...

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) — The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiators from 12 countries have converged in Kota Kinabalu for the 18th round, with an eye on concluding negotiations by year-end. Japan makes its debut as the 12th TPPA member in Sabah, alongside Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam. The negotiations, from today until July 25, are being held behind closed doors and there is no public session, except for the stakeholder session, on July 20. The objective of the programme is to allow stakeholders to present their views and concerns. More than 180 stakeholders, including 51 from Malaysia representing different interest groups have registered for this session. The TPPA, a free trade initiative, is expected to expand exports of participating countries into a large global market base and provide a cheaper product base for consumers. With the proposed elimination or...

THE 18th round of negotiations for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), which opened in Kota Kinabalu yesterday, attracted one of the highest number of participants since the talks were launched three years ago. More than 650 officials from the 12-member countries registered for the talks, which will end next Thursday, according to the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti). The grouping has Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, Vietnam and Japan on board. Japan, the latest addition to the talks, has the largest delegation, apart from host country Malaysia, with more than 100 officials. The world’s third-largest economy will, however, only join the discussion table next Tuesday, when it officially receives the green light from the US Congress. According to the US Trade Representative Office, the Congress was notified of its intent to include Japan in the TPP negotiations on April 24. This means the US...

KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 (Bernama) — The government has not made any decision on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) which is currently underway in Kota Kinabalu, said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed. “It is still at the discussion stage, but nothing is definitive yet,” he said when met at Parliament lobby here Tuesday. The TPPA is an agreement that the United States, as the leading negotiator, is hoping to ink to consolidate its role in developing a broader platform for trade liberalisation, particularly throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Malaysia is currently negotiating with 11 other countries to conclude the TPPA, a multilateral trade agreement involving Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, Japan, Vietnam, Peru and Singapore, apart from the U.S. Mustapa said the government would ensure that its sovereignty and national interest were protected and would take into account public views, including those who...

PETALING JAYA, July 18 (Bernama) — Malaysia is confident the Asean Economic Community (AEC) will be realised by 2015 as 80 per cent of the measures have already been implemented by member nations. International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said in the case of Malaysia, 88 per cent of the measures have been implemented. Speaking to reporters after launching the 10th Asean Leadership Forum, Mustapa said Malaysian entrepreneurs were getting ready, especially in capacity- building measures to enhance their resilience. He said capacity building was important as it was easier for bigger companies to adapt but some small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are feeling the pressure. Earlier in his speech, Mustapa said Malaysian companies have been benefiting from closer Asean economic integration by expanding their operations to other Asean countries. “Companies such as Maybank, AirAsia, CIMB, Sime Darby, Petronas and Ingress Auto Ventures are some examples of...

KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 (Bernama) — The government will impose a provisional anti-dumping duties ranging from Nil to 25 per cent on electrolytic tinplates imported from China and South Korea. The International Trade and Industry Ministry said the duties are effective not more than 120 days from July 20 and the final determination will be made no later than 120 days from July 20. “The government has decided to impose a provisional measure, which shall take the form of a provisional anti-dumping duty, guaranteed by a security equal to the amount of the dumping margin determined through the preliminary investigation,” the ministry said in a statement. The ministry said the government has completed preliminary investigations on the importations of tinplates as provided under Section 23 of the Countervailing and Anti-Dumping Duties Act 1993. “There is sufficient evidence to continue with further investigations on the importations of tinplates from the alleged countries,” the...