Malaysia Touts Trade Access as U.S. Indo-Pacific Plan Only a "Good Beginning

Sabtu, 14 Mei 2022 | 14:57 WIB
Malaysia Touts Trade Access as U.S. Indo-Pacific Plan Only a
[]
Reporter: Sumber: Reuters | Editor: Thomas Hadiwinata

KONTAN.CO.ID - WASHINGTON, May 13 (Reuters) - Malaysia views U.S. President Joe Biden's proposed Indo-Pacific economic bloc as a welcome initiative but sees a bigger immediate opportunity in selling its access to a China-led trade pact to lure investment from global companies, Malaysia's trade minister said on Friday.

The Biden administration's proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) aims to offer a U.S.-led platform for negotiating common regional standards around digital trade and data flows, labor standards, carbon emissions reductions and governance. But to the chagrin of some countries and business groups, it will not reduce tariffs between members or include traditional enhancements to market access.

Azmin Ali, Malaysia's minister of international trade and industry told Reuters in an interview that the newly launched Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) gives companies the ability to use Malaysia as a hub to access a market comprising a third of the world's population and a third of global GDP output.

"It represents almost 2.3 billion people under RCEP," Azmin said. "So again, we would like to invite these big companies to come to Malaysia and to use Malaysia as a gateway to penetrate a bigger market access and also to enjoy lower tariffs in terms of our export product."

Baca Juga: North Korea's Kim Says Covid "Great Turmoil', 21 New Deaths Reported

The 15 member RCEP bloc includes China, the world's second largest economy and Japan, the third largest, along with Vietnam and Australia.

Malaysia also is touting access to another regional trade bloc, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which includes a number of RCEP countries other than China and adds Canada, Mexico, Peru and Chile.

The IPEF plan was a key topic of discussion at a Washington leaders summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), though it is not expected to be formally launched until Biden travels to Japan next week. 

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Thursday called for Washington adopt a "more active" trade and investment agenda with ASEAN countries. 

Baca Juga: U.S. Tells Southeast Asian Leaders Summit Marks New Era for Ties

Azmin said IPEF "is not a TPP 2.0," referring to the pan-Pacific trade deal that former U.S. President Donald Trump quit in 2017, but said it represents a first-ever formal economic engagement between with the United States.

"It is a good beginning for us to engage on various issues, including the non-traditional elements like environment, climate change, labor practices, governance," Azmin said.

Malaysia still needs to decide which of the so-called IPEF pillars to join, he added. Vietnam's prime minister also on Wednesday said more time was needed to study IPEF. 

To make the project more attractive to Asian countries without reduced U.S. import tariffs, Azmin said he suggested to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo that IPEF include some provisions to provide more technical assistance and capacity building to member countries to help them close gaps between their differing levels of development.

This would help less developed countries to comply with international standards on labor and environment, he added.

Bagikan

Berita Terbaru

MSCI Melunak Melonggarkan Kriteria Masuk Indeks, Kabar Baik Bagi Saham-Saham Prajogo
| Minggu, 13 Juli 2025 | 16:05 WIB

MSCI Melunak Melonggarkan Kriteria Masuk Indeks, Kabar Baik Bagi Saham-Saham Prajogo

Pengamat pasar Yanuar Rizky menyebut langkah MSCI melonggarkan syarat menandakan mereka mengincar keuntungan pendek (short) dari transaksi di IDX.

Menakar Taji BBCA, BBRI, BMRI VS Saham Konglomerat yang Jadi Nakhoda Penggerak IHSG
| Minggu, 13 Juli 2025 | 14:42 WIB

Menakar Taji BBCA, BBRI, BMRI VS Saham Konglomerat yang Jadi Nakhoda Penggerak IHSG

Emiten dengan bobot terbesar di dalam Indeks Harga Saham Gabungan (IHSG) dikuasai oleh tiga saham perbankan keping biru..

Gaduh PKPU Emiten Pionir Bisnis Kebab Baba Rafi (RAFI), Nilamsari Buka Suara
| Minggu, 13 Juli 2025 | 14:36 WIB

Gaduh PKPU Emiten Pionir Bisnis Kebab Baba Rafi (RAFI), Nilamsari Buka Suara

Nilamsari dan Nur Arief Budiyanto menyatakan mereka telah mengajukan pengunduran diri dan disetujui dalam RUPS tanggal 26 Juni 2024.

Bank Mandiri (BMRI) Agendakan RUPSLB, Dirut Darmawan Junaidi Digosipkan Bakal Diganti
| Minggu, 13 Juli 2025 | 11:42 WIB

Bank Mandiri (BMRI) Agendakan RUPSLB, Dirut Darmawan Junaidi Digosipkan Bakal Diganti

PT Bank Mandiri Tbk mengumumkan bakal menggelar RUPSLB pada 4 Agustus 2025 mendatang, dengan Agenda: perubahan pengurus perseroan.

Perang Diskon Sepeda Motor Listrik di Tengah Ketidakpastian Subsidi
| Minggu, 13 Juli 2025 | 06:05 WIB

Perang Diskon Sepeda Motor Listrik di Tengah Ketidakpastian Subsidi

Insentif pemerintah untuk sepeda motor listrik tak kunjung turun, produsen memutar siasat menebar diskon jumbo

Panen Raya Bisnis Buku Latihan Soal Sekolah
| Minggu, 13 Juli 2025 | 05:10 WIB

Panen Raya Bisnis Buku Latihan Soal Sekolah

Penerbit buku latihan soal untuk siswa panen menjelang tahun ajaran baru. Bukunya laris diborong orang tua siswa yang in

 
Ironi Bansos untuk Judol
| Minggu, 13 Juli 2025 | 05:05 WIB

Ironi Bansos untuk Judol

​Pemerintah menemukan ada 571.410 rekening penerima bansos terindikasi digunakan untuk aktivitas judi daring pada 2024.

Terdorong Sentimen Positif Domestik, IHSG Menguat Dalam Sepekan
| Sabtu, 12 Juli 2025 | 11:30 WIB

Terdorong Sentimen Positif Domestik, IHSG Menguat Dalam Sepekan

Di akhir pekan perdagangan saham di Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI), IHSG menclok di 7.047,43, menguat 2,65% dalam sepekan. 

Sudah Penuhi Kewajiban, BEI Cabut Suspensi Saham Kimia Farma (KAEF)
| Sabtu, 12 Juli 2025 | 11:24 WIB

Sudah Penuhi Kewajiban, BEI Cabut Suspensi Saham Kimia Farma (KAEF)

Sejak sesi pertama perdagangan saham di BEI kemarin, saham emiten farmasi pelat merah tersebut sudah kembali diperdagangkan.

Trump Tetap Patok Tarif 32%, Indonesia Patut Ikuti Langkah China Menjaring Mitra Baru
| Sabtu, 12 Juli 2025 | 10:00 WIB

Trump Tetap Patok Tarif 32%, Indonesia Patut Ikuti Langkah China Menjaring Mitra Baru

Indonesia juga mesti memaksimalkan penggunaan LCS dan BCSA untuk mengurangi ketergantungan terhadap dolar AS.

INDEKS BERITA

Terpopuler