Today's Pick (20/05/13/86/1011)'Review nation's involvement in TPP talks'

'Review nation's involvement in TPP talks'


KOTA BARU: The Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM) has urged the government to review the country's involvement in the

negotiations for the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) aimed at further liberalising the economies of the Asia-pacific region.

DPMM secretary-general Hanafee Yusoff said the pact, which is being pushed by the US, would open the country's market to the region's 2.7 billion people.

"A review would assuage Bumiputera entrepreneurs' concerns in line with the Free Trade Agreement (FTAs) between Malaysia and other countries," he told Bernama, here today.

Because the TPP is a multi-lateral trade agreement among many countries, the government should be more cautious as it could leave Bumiputera enterprises vulnerable, Hanafee said.

It was reported earlier that Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM) chief executive officer Mohd Nizam Mahshar had urged the government to withdraw from the TPP negotiations, saying the pact could harm the nation's local businesses especially Bumiputera-owned ones.

Talks on the TPP involving 12 countries -- the US, Australia, Brunei, Malaysia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and Japan -- have entered the 17th round, and are expected to conclude by October.-- Bernama


Source : New Straits Times
Date : 17 May 2013
Today's Pick (20/05/13/86/1011)