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Malaysia-EU FTA set to boost total trade by 20%-30%

 PETALING JAYA: The proposed Malaysia-European Union (EU) Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to boost total trade by 20% to 30% from the current 10%, said EU ambassador and head of delegation to Malaysia Maria Castillo Fernandez.

She said this was based on the EU’s FTA with South Korea for the past five years, which rose 35%.

“We (EU) have similar volume in terms of trade with Malaysia, so, certainly it will increase to that level.

“This will also create a win-win situation for both sides as we favour an open, free and sustainable trade,” she told reporters on the sidelines of the two-day Asean Regional Seminar on Transit and Transhipment here yesterday.

Asked when the FTA can be concluded, Castillo said it would be before year-end based on a constructive meeting between European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrm and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed in Manila on March 10.

Meanwhile, Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong said Malmstrm and Mustapa touched on possible areas of cooperation, particularly on small and medium enterprise development, women and youth entrepreneurship, and sectoral legislative enactments involving vegetable, oils and fats. – Bernama

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2017/03/24/malaysiaeu-fta-set-to-boost-total-trade-by-2030/#kVCsYhKJPJ65sfbd.99