Malaysia Pleased With Progress At TPP Talks In Melbourne

By Neville D'Cruz MELBOURNE, March 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia made strong representations at the 11th round of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations which concluded here on Friday. Delegation leader J. Jayasiri, Senior Director at the Malaysian International Trade and Industry Ministry, said there were many trade issues discussed and the Malaysian delegates took leading roles in negotiations. "We had a strong mandate from our government to get balanced and fair outcomes. "We made good progress in many different areas, including some complex issues," Jayasiri said, adding the nine TPP nations had made significant progress and were hopeful a new Pacific trade pact can be struck before the of the year. Lead negotiator Hamish McCormick told a media conference on Friday the regulatory coherence, the interests of small and medium-sized businesses and deepening of regional supply chains were discussed. "We have made further strong headway," he said. Interest expressed by Japan, Canada and Mexico in joining the TPP negotiations was also discussed. "All of us, of course, share the goal of expanding the TPP to include other countries from across the Asia Pacific region," McCormick said. Each TPP member has begun bilateral consultations with Japan, Canada and Mexico, and a final decision on new members would be made by consensus of all TPP ministers, he said. The next round of TPP talks are scheduled for May but the location is yet to be confirmed. The other nations involved in TPP negotiations are the US, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, Peru, Chile and Brunei. -- BERNAMA