MALAYSIA'S FTA TALKS WITH AUSTRALIA & NZ ONGOING

Hua Yin (THAILAND), Feb 28 (Bernama) - Malaysia's free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with Australia and New Zealand are still ongoing, said Minister of International Trade and Industry, Muhyiddin Yassin.
He said in both negotiations there were some contentious issues that need to
be ironed out.

"With New Zealand for example (they want) alcoholic beverages to be put in
the exclusion list, so we would not be able to concede with their request
because there is a certain reason why Malaysia imposes high duty on these
things," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the 14th Asean Summit here
Saturday.

The other is the government's procurement policy, he said, adding that
investment negotiations were not difficult but there were still areas that were
being negotiated.

Another round of meetings with New Zealand would take place in April. "We
will see what we can agree upon," he said.

Similarly, with Australia, the same major contentious issues have yet to be
resolved.

"(But), we are not stalling the negotiation process. It is still on going
(and) we got to move as we negotiate," said Muhyiddin.

Total trade between Malaysia and Australia in 2008 increased to RM36.2
billion from RM30.6 billion in 2007. Total exports and imports in 2008 were
RM24.4 billion and RM11.8 billion, respectively.

Total trade between Malaysia and New Zealand in 2008 amounted to RM6.2
billion with exports and imports of RM3.6 billion and RM2.6 billion,
respectively.

-- BERNAMA