Malaysia won't compromise farmers in FTA with US: Minister

[Joanne98]

Source: AFP

Malaysia won't compromise farmers in FTA with US: Minister
34 minutes ago

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysia's International trade minister Monday said his country would not compromise on its sensitive agricultural sector in the next round of free trade negotiations with the United States.

Last week, Muhyiddin Yassin urged the US to lower its expectations as the two countries prepare to resume talks towards a free trade agreement in July.

He said the country would not compromise on a list of issues, including affirmative action policies for the nation's majority ethnic Malays.

"The agriculture sector is important to the country and we will not compromise if we feel that any agreement is likely to negatively affect farmers," he was quoted as telling Parliament by state news agency Bernama.

"This is the reason why we did not agree to include the planting of padi (for example) in the negotiations," he added.

"We are very clear in this stand and will not compromise to such an extent that we sacrifice our sovereignty, our national interests must be defended."

The negotiations, which began in March 2006, reached an impasse at the seventh round held in Kuala Lumpur in January, after a year-long pause.

The United States, which is Malaysia's biggest trading partner, hopes a deal could be struck before President George W. Bush leaves office at the end of the year.

The US Free trade talks in the country have come under fire from various groups including those within the ruling party, who believe an agreement would leave Malaysia in a unfavourable trading position.

Malaysia's list of sensitive areas -- including environmental protection and the practice of giving Malay companies a leg-up in lucrative government contracts -- have bogged down the protracted talks.

US assistant trade representative Barbara Weisel has warned that the FTA could be shelved if an agreement is not reached before the end of Bush's term in January 2009.


Read more: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hLWRnCLkqrL2GNnaQoFFeGRx4-EQ

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Here's a freetrade agreement we didn't even know about. How many does Bush have going anyway?

[darue]

1. this has NOTHING to do with "free trade" it's US telling them what parts of their economy we get

they should tell bush's people to fuck off.

[bluesmail]

2. After deciphering the article it sounds like Malaysia is on to

Wall Street biggies and their futures scam.

[Boojatta]

3. Since when does Malaysia have the authority to negotiate with America?

Malaysia and America are both part of the world. Therefore, according to a recent Malaysian Prez, Malaysia and America are controlled by proxy. Obviously Malaysia and America need to get together and ask for a good deal from the secret organization that controls both Malaysia and America.

[parkia00]

4. What the Heck are you talking about!??!

You make no sense!

[Boojatta]

5. Does BBC News make any sense?

Malaysia defends speech on Jews
Last Updated: Friday, 17 October, 2003

The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which brings together 57 national leaders representing more than a billion Muslims worldwide, has been meeting for the first time since the 11 September attacks on America, and the US-led war on terrorism is dominating the agenda.

'Fight them'

In his speech, Dr Mahathir called on Muslims to use brains as well as brawn to fight Jews who, he said, "rule the world by proxy".

(...)

Jews, said the Malaysian prime minister, had "invented socialism, communism, human rights and democracy" to avoid persecution and gain control of the most powerful countries.

He added that "the Jews" were "beginning to make mistakes" and Muslims could have "windows of opportunity... in the future".

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3196234.stm

[parkia00]

6. Yeah. So?

Please tell me you are not using what one individual said to paint the whole country that way? If that is the case I can point to some similar minded people on the opposite end of the spectrum in Israel and the US!

[Boojatta]

8. The "one individual" in question happens to have been,

at the time of the speech, the Malaysian prime minister. The speech itself was an official speech made to over 50 national leaders representing more than a billion Muslims worldwide.

[parkia00]

9. Again, yeah, so?

It's still ONE individual! What ONE person said. Just like that ONE person from Iran who talk about erasing a certain Jewish country from the map? Remember him? And just what the heck does it have to do with what the topic of the original post?

[Robbien]

7. There are many free trade agreements being negotiated

Several in Asia right now.

One of my favorite sites to keep up on who is doing what in the FTA area is the Public Citizen's blog
http://citizen.typepad.com/

and their eyes on trade blog
http://www.tradewatch.org/

Right now Citizen is suing the Feds over their secrecy in releasing the trade terms with the EU.