EU will resume FTA talks with Malaysia

The European Union (EU) and Malaysia will resume their Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) talks within the year, according to EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Malaysia, Maria Castillo-Fernandez. “Once it resumes, we can complete it in a very reasonable timeframe” she concluded. Negotiations began in 2010 but were put on hold soon after.

“Bilateral trade is growing. EU is (the) third largest trading partner and the largest investors in Malaysia, and with FTA, trade will certainly increase further. It’s a win-win situation for both sides. We eagerly wait to start the formal negotiation in the month to come,” she said.

Peter Berz, Head of Unit South and Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, at the Directorate General for Trade of the European Commission, will brief Asia House corporate members on the current status of EU FTAs with Malaysia and the Philippines, and will give a broader outline of EU FTAs with other ASEAN members.