A government-opposition caucus will discuss the Malaysia-US trade agreement to address sovereignty concerns before final ratification, says minister
KUALA LUMPUR: A joint caucus involving the government, opposition and key stakeholders will be convened to discuss the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) before its final ratification.
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the government is committed to holding these discussions to address any concerns, particularly those related to national sovereignty.
“This matter needs to be discussed openly and collectively, including at the parliamentary level, to ensure the country’s interests are safeguarded,” he told the Dewan Rakyat.
He was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut) on Malaysia’s position regarding the ART compared to other Southeast Asian nations.
Johari noted that several provisions in the agreement still lack clear definitions, especially those that could lead to misunderstandings on sovereignty issues.
“The ratification process will serve as an opportunity to redefine the true meaning of these provisions to prevent misinterpretation or misuse,” he said.
He emphasised the agreement is fundamentally economic and trade-oriented, not political, and aims to ensure no discrimination against existing investors.
Any final decision will only be made after comprehensive consultations, including through the promised caucus mechanism.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told Parliament yesterday that the Malaysia-US ART, signed last October, has yet to be enforced as negotiations are ongoing.
Anwar said the government is still seeking clear written assurances and that no deadline for concluding the talks has been set.