Malaysia will not bow to pressure from Washington to meet the White House's fast-closing window to push a free trade agreement (FTA) through Congress without amendments, Malaysia's deputy leader said yesterday.
At least five rounds of talks between Malaysia and the US have so far ended in a deadlock, mainly because of a disagreement over the way Kuala Lumpur awards government contracts.
Reports in Malaysia's media yesterday said Washington had all but ruled out a successful conclusion by July -- when US President George W. Bush's fast-track authority expires.
The authority allows Bush to submit a trade deal to Congress for a straight up-or-down vote without amendments. Negotiators must conclude a deal by the end of this month to allow US lawmakers three months to review it and then vote.
"We will not be tied down to any timeframe and we want to look into all details thoroughly before making a decision," Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said. "The US will not pressure us. Of course, we know the US wants an early resolution but they also understand some issues take time to be finalized."
The two countries are looking at 18 areas in the talks, including industrial goods, customs procedures, intellectual property rights, agriculture, financial services and telecommunications.
Two-way trade between Malaysia and the US totaled US$44 billion in 2005, which officials say will double by 2010 if a free trade pact is signed.
The key obstacle to the negotations is Malaysia's affirmative action program that awards government tenders to Malay-owned firms.
Recently, US Ambassador to Malaysia Christopher LaFleur and US lobby groups have urged Malaysian officials to finish the agreement before Bush's fast-track authority expires.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old