Malaysia-US get over with first round of FTA negotiations

29 Jun '06

4 min read

Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) announces the first round of negotiations was held on 12 – 15 June 2006 in Penang. This round was mainly used by both sides to clarify and understand each other's positions, register interests and concerns and submit requests.

The negotiations covered eighteen issues which were discussed in separate working groups. They are:

industrial goods
agriculture
textiles and clothing
rules of origin
customs procedures
trade remedies
technical barriers to trade
services
intellectual property rights
financial services
government procurement
investment
telecommunications
environment
competition policy
e-commerce
legal matters
sanitary and phytosanitary measures

The Malaysian delegation was led by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and comprised 128 officers from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Representatives of industry associations and professional services bodies were also present.

The discussion provided both sides an opportunity to assess common grounds and exchange different views and approaches on issues proposed for inclusion in the FTA.

On market access issues, both sides explored the possibility of further increasing trade through elimination of remaining tariffs. Malaysia submitted its request for early duty elimination for textile and garments, rubber and wood,

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