(Versi Bahasa Inggeris sahaja)

 

The TPP Ministerial Meeting was held from 22-25 February 2014 in Singapore. The meeting was preceded by technical level discussions at the chief negotiators level on the various outstanding issues. The aim of the Ministerial meeting was to consider the possible options and explore compromises on the outstanding issues from the December 2013 meeting.

The intensive four-day meeting focused on market access and text. Ministers made progress on a number of outstanding issues but significant gaps remain in the more difficult areas such as IPR, state owned enterprises and environment. In these areas, Ministers decided on options for negotiators to work on to find the appropriate compromises.

In the area of market access, Ministers exchanged information on the state of play in the various bilateral negotiations. This is an important area which remains outstanding. Ministers discussed the viable options in moving forward negotiations in the area of market access, and further bilateral negotiations would continue.

Malaysia continues to seek flexibility and carve outs to deal with our areas of concerns such as bumiputera issues, government procurement, environment, labour, intellectual property rights and state owned enterprises.

In the area of goods market access, Malaysia is prepared to undertake comprehensive commitments, but this would depend on the overall balance of the negotiations. Malaysia has thus far made good progress in the bilateral discussions on market access.

On tobacco, Malaysian officials convened informal consultations with officials from a number of countries to pursue an exception from the TPP for tobacco and tobacco products.

Overall, there is still a lot of work that remains to be undertaken by the negotiators. Negotiators will be consulting on a suitable timetable to continue work with a view to find a solution to the remaining issues.

Malaysia will continue to undertake domestic engagement with various stakeholders to share with them the outcome of the Singapore meeting and the way forward.

25 February 2014
Singapore