US KEEN ON BROADER TRANS-PACIFIC ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

PENANG (Malaysia), Nov 18 (Bernama) -- The United States is keen to expand
the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP), US ambassador
to Malaysia, James R. Keith, said Wednesday.

He said currently there was no formal announcement on the bilateral free
trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between Malaysia and the US.

"Priority now will be given to the TPP while there has not been any specific
announcement regarding the FTA," he told reporters after attending the American
Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) dialogue and luncheon here Wednesday.

Keith said US President Barack Obama recently confirmed that his country
would participate in the broader TPP.

The TPP, also known as the P4 agreement, is not an Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation (Apec) initiative and does not fall within the Apec agenda.

It is a multilateral free trade agreement involving Brunei, Chile, New
Zealand and Singapore.

Recently, the group expanded to include the US, Australia, Peru and Vietnam.
-- BERNAMA