MALAYSIA TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS ON FTA WITH THE UNITED STATES

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will continue negotiations on
the
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States, said the Deputy Minister of
International Trade and Industry Jacob Dungau Sagan.

According to Sagan, although eight rounds of negotiations have been
held on
the FTA, an agreement when concluded, will lead to improved two-way trade
between both countries.

"The government will definitely emphasise to the United States that
Malaysia
will not compromise on any request or suggestion which was not reasonable,
touched on the sovereignity of the country or which was in conflict with the
policies of the country which needed to be maintained," Sagan said in a reply to
a question from Tuan Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff, an opposition member of
Parliament (MP) in the Lower House of Parliament Tuesday.

Yusmadi had asked if the United States would continue the FTA with Malaysia
as the President-elect,Barack Obama, was advocating a perfectionist
policy.

"Both sides are negotiating in the spirit of wanting to achieve an
agreement
that is mutually satisfying and with the readiness to be flexible where
necessary while taking into account the respective sensitivities and position,"
Sagan explained.

The government, said Sagan, would ensure that the FTA negotiations yield
tangible benefits for Malaysia over the long term while contributing towards
developing Malaysia's economic interests.

Among the benefits to be attained from the FTA agreement with the United
States said Sagan, is access to a bigger market for Malaysian exports such as
textiles, wood products, ceramics and rubber.

Sagan also said, other benefits include, overcoming the non-tariff barriers
specifically the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), Sanitary and Phytosanitary
(SPS)measures, enhancing foreign direct investments (FDI) and co-operation to
enhance competitiveness in specific sectors.

-- BERNAMA