Malaysia, EU To Resume FTA Talks -- Minister

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa CHIANGMAI, March 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and the European Union (EU) have agreed to resume discussions on the free trade agreement (FTA) which have been delayed for the past three years. Malaysian Minister of Trade and Industry, Mustapa Mohamed, who met European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Maelstrom, Thursday morning, said the negotiation parties from both sides would meet in mid- or end-April this year. "Malaysia and EU started FTA talks five years ago. They were, however, delayed for three years due to various unavoidable factors," he said. Mustapa said this to Bernama at the 22nd Asean Economic Ministers' Retreat here Thursday. He said among the factors for the delay were Malaysia's involvement in the talks on Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and the failure of both parties to agree on various issues. Mustapa said the EU would also resume FTA talks with other Asean nations like Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines. It has just completed the talks with Vietnam, he said. He said there was no deadline to complete the FTA talks with the EU. -- BERNAMA