MALAYSIA EYES RESUMPTION IN FTA TALKS WITH US, AUSTRALIA

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysia hopes to resume bilateral talks
with the US and Australia soon, said Minister of International Trade and
Industry, Mustapa Mohamed.

He said the free trade agreements (FTAs) with Australia and US had been
outstanding for some time.

Mustapa said there would be a meeting with Australia on the FTA in August.

"We have touched base with the US authorities and established contacts with
Australia as well," he told a media briefing after attending the Malaysian
International Chamber of Commerce and Industry luncheon here Tuesday.

He said there were various issues that needed to be looked at in talks with
the US.

Mustapa said at the Cairns Group ministerial meeting in Bali, Indonesia,
some progress was made with the US on the FTA issue.

He said Malaysia hoped to sign the FTA with New Zealand by this year.

"At the moment we only need to resolve a few technical issues," he said.
-- BERNAMA