Japan, Malaysia FTA takes effect
Online Publication Date: 14 July 2006Thursday July 13, 2006Japan, Malaysia FTA takes effect(Kyodo) — A free trade agreement between Japan and Malaysia took effect Thursday, enabling the two countries to scrap tariffs on essentially all industrial goods and most agricultural, forestry and fishery products within 10 years.To signify the launch of the FTA, the two nations held the same day their first joint committee meeting at the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Iikura guesthouse in Tokyo to discuss operational procedures on the implementation of the FTA.
Japan was represented at the meeting by Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Shoichi Nakagawa, Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki. Malaysia’s delegation was led by International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz.Japan and Malaysia signed the bilateral FTA in December following nearly two years of negotiations. Malaysia is the third FTA partner for Japan following Singapore and Mexico.The Japanese and Malaysian ministers issued a joint press statement to mark the FTA’s entry into force, which called the FTA a "solid basis for the strategic partnership between Japan and Malaysia.
"The ministers from both nations "shared the view that the (FTA) will contribute toward enhancing the cross-border flow of goods, services and capital between Japan and Malaysia...enable both countries to make the most of their economic complementarity."For example, Kuala Lumpur will remove tariffs on finished passenger cars with engine displacements above 2000 cc by 2010 and smaller vehicles by 2015. It will also immediately abolish tariffs for completely knocked down auto parts for Japanese carmakers assembling vehicles in Malaysia.For farm products, Tokyo will immediately eliminate tariffs on Malaysian imports of tropical fruits like mangoes, mangosteens, durians, papayas and rambutans.The accord will cover not only trade in goods, but also services trade, intellectual property right protection, investment rules, competition policies, business facilitation and cooperation projects for personnel training in Malaysia.
Japanese manufacturers would benefit from the FTA as it will boost their competitiveness by lowering parts procurement costs in Malaysia, while Malaysian local industries would also gain from Japan’s cooperation programs stipulated in the accord, according to Japanese officials.Under the partnership, Japan will accept 1,000 trainees over the next 10 years from relevant Malaysian institutions for human resources development in such areas as agriculture, education and information technology. A total of 24 programs are set to be implemented immediately now that the pact has entered into force.In 2005, Japan’s exports to Malaysia totaled $12.6 billion and imports from the country stood at $14.8 billion, according to the Japanese government.
Japan-Malaysia Economic Partnership Agreement
Online Publication Date: 28 March 2006The Japan-Malaysia Economic Partnership Agreement (JMEPA) was signed by on 13 December 2005. A thorough examination of the JMEPA is urgently needed. The assessment will enable Malaysians to determine the changes in policy, law, regulations, administrative measures and other government practices that will need to be made and the impact of these on Malaysia’s national interests.
The lack of transparency and public consultation during the negotiations of the JMEPA cannot be repeated in the ongoing negotiations of FTAs with the US, Australia and New Zealand.
Najib: KL will review ‘lopsided’ FTA with Japan
Online Publication Date: 30 June 2006The Star (Malaysia)(http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/6/17/nation/14567271&sec=nation)17June 2006Najib: KL will review ‘lopsided’ FTA with JapanBy SYED AZHARTOKYO: Malaysia will review its free trade agreement (FTA) with Japan following claims that it is lopsided, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.“We will have to see how it is being implemented as well as the interpretation of the economic partnership. We have to look at it in its entirety,” the Deputy Prime Minister told reporters after attending the World Economic Forum on East Asia here yesterday.
He was asked to comment on the claim by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the agreement, signed last December was not balanced and not beneficial to Malaysia.Najib said, for example, there was an undertaking by the Japanese government to help Malaysia build its automotive industry.“If they respond in a positive direction, we will ensure that the implementation of the partnership is equitable. We will monitor the situation closely,” he said.Under the agreement, Malaysia will, in 10 years, do away with almost all tariffs on the entry of Japanese cars, while Malaysian mangoes and other products would be allowed entry into Japan.
Malaysia began FTA talks with the United States early this month, and is negotiating with Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan for similar agreements. On the planned East Asian regional grouping, Najib said Asean countries should take the initiative to set it up.“I am saying this based on consensus and Asean’s 40-year experience,” said Najib, adding that there was a need for stronger political will to see the formation of an East Asian community.
Online Publication Date: 14 July 2006Thursday July 13, 2006Japan, Malaysia FTA takes effect(Kyodo) — A free trade agreement between Japan and Malaysia took effect Thursday, enabling the two countries to scrap tariffs on essentially all industrial goods and most agricultural, forestry and fishery products within 10 years.To signify the launch of the FTA, the two nations held the same day their first joint committee meeting at the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Iikura guesthouse in Tokyo to discuss operational procedures on the implementation of the FTA.
Japan was represented at the meeting by Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Shoichi Nakagawa, Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki. Malaysia’s delegation was led by International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz.Japan and Malaysia signed the bilateral FTA in December following nearly two years of negotiations. Malaysia is the third FTA partner for Japan following Singapore and Mexico.The Japanese and Malaysian ministers issued a joint press statement to mark the FTA’s entry into force, which called the FTA a "solid basis for the strategic partnership between Japan and Malaysia.
"The ministers from both nations "shared the view that the (FTA) will contribute toward enhancing the cross-border flow of goods, services and capital between Japan and Malaysia...enable both countries to make the most of their economic complementarity."For example, Kuala Lumpur will remove tariffs on finished passenger cars with engine displacements above 2000 cc by 2010 and smaller vehicles by 2015. It will also immediately abolish tariffs for completely knocked down auto parts for Japanese carmakers assembling vehicles in Malaysia.For farm products, Tokyo will immediately eliminate tariffs on Malaysian imports of tropical fruits like mangoes, mangosteens, durians, papayas and rambutans.The accord will cover not only trade in goods, but also services trade, intellectual property right protection, investment rules, competition policies, business facilitation and cooperation projects for personnel training in Malaysia.
Japanese manufacturers would benefit from the FTA as it will boost their competitiveness by lowering parts procurement costs in Malaysia, while Malaysian local industries would also gain from Japan’s cooperation programs stipulated in the accord, according to Japanese officials.Under the partnership, Japan will accept 1,000 trainees over the next 10 years from relevant Malaysian institutions for human resources development in such areas as agriculture, education and information technology. A total of 24 programs are set to be implemented immediately now that the pact has entered into force.In 2005, Japan’s exports to Malaysia totaled $12.6 billion and imports from the country stood at $14.8 billion, according to the Japanese government.
Japan-Malaysia Economic Partnership Agreement
Online Publication Date: 28 March 2006The Japan-Malaysia Economic Partnership Agreement (JMEPA) was signed by on 13 December 2005. A thorough examination of the JMEPA is urgently needed. The assessment will enable Malaysians to determine the changes in policy, law, regulations, administrative measures and other government practices that will need to be made and the impact of these on Malaysia’s national interests.
The lack of transparency and public consultation during the negotiations of the JMEPA cannot be repeated in the ongoing negotiations of FTAs with the US, Australia and New Zealand.
Najib: KL will review ‘lopsided’ FTA with Japan
Online Publication Date: 30 June 2006The Star (Malaysia)(http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/6/17/nation/14567271&sec=nation)17June 2006Najib: KL will review ‘lopsided’ FTA with JapanBy SYED AZHARTOKYO: Malaysia will review its free trade agreement (FTA) with Japan following claims that it is lopsided, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.“We will have to see how it is being implemented as well as the interpretation of the economic partnership. We have to look at it in its entirety,” the Deputy Prime Minister told reporters after attending the World Economic Forum on East Asia here yesterday.
He was asked to comment on the claim by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the agreement, signed last December was not balanced and not beneficial to Malaysia.Najib said, for example, there was an undertaking by the Japanese government to help Malaysia build its automotive industry.“If they respond in a positive direction, we will ensure that the implementation of the partnership is equitable. We will monitor the situation closely,” he said.Under the agreement, Malaysia will, in 10 years, do away with almost all tariffs on the entry of Japanese cars, while Malaysian mangoes and other products would be allowed entry into Japan.
Malaysia began FTA talks with the United States early this month, and is negotiating with Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan for similar agreements. On the planned East Asian regional grouping, Najib said Asean countries should take the initiative to set it up.“I am saying this based on consensus and Asean’s 40-year experience,” said Najib, adding that there was a need for stronger political will to see the formation of an East Asian community.
No comments:
Post a Comment