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      "date": "2009-01-26",
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      "title": "The Proposed U.S.-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement",
      "summary": "This report addresses the proposed U.S.-Malaysia free trade agreement (FTA). It provides an overview of the current status of the negotiations, a review of the 2008 talks, an examination of leading issues that have arisen during the negotiations, a review of U.S. interests in the proposed agreement, a summary of the potential effects of a FTA on bilateral trade, and an overview of the legislative procedures to be followed if the proposed FTA is presented to Congress for approval. \nThe proposed U.S.-Malaysia FTA is of interest to Congress because (1) it requires congressional approval; (2) it would continue the past trend toward greater trade liberalization and globalization; (3) it may include controversial provisions; and (4) it could affect trade flows for certain sensitive goods and industries in the United States.\nSince the U.S. Trade Representative announced on March 8, 2006, the Bush Administration\u2019s intent to negotiate a free trade agreement with Malaysia, eight rounds of negotiations have been held. A proposed ninth round of talks scheduled for November 2008 were postponed until after President Barack Obama\u2019s inauguration once it became apparent that several outstanding issues remained unresolved. Since the postponement, Malaysia has suspended the bilateral negotiations, possibly in response to U.S. support for Israel\u2019s military operations in Gaza.\nEfforts in 2008 to complete the FTA negotiations by the end of the Bush Administation were unsuccessful. There is general agreement that one major \u201csticking point\u201d is Malaysia\u2019s government procurement policies, which give preferential treatment for certain types of Malaysian-owned companies. Other key outstanding provisions of the possible FTA as of the end of 2008 were intellectual property rights protection, protection of Malaysia\u2019s agricultural and automotive industry, and trade in services. \nAreas of particular interest to U.S. exporters include a reduction of Malaysian trade barriers to automobiles and certain agricultural products, provisions for the enforcement of intellectual property rights, and broader access to Malaysia\u2019s service sectors such as financial services, telecommunications, and professional services.\nBoth nations could potentially see economic benefits from the proposed FTA, but there will be both winners and losers in both nations, as well as in other nations not part of the bilateral agreement. Overall bilateral trade flows would probably rise, possibly at the expense of some domestic and foreign manufacturers and their workers. In 2007, the United States was Malaysia\u2019s largest trading partner, while Malaysia was the United States\u2019 tenth largest trading partner. The United States was Malaysia\u2019s top export market and its second largest supplier of imports in 2007.\nIn addition, the United States may also accrue some political benefits from the proposed FTA. An FTA with Malaysia would strengthen U.S. ties with a moderate, democratic Muslim nation. It would also support U.S. efforts to be viewed as more engaged in Southeast Asia. \nThis report will be updated as circumstances warrant.",
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      "id": "RL33445_2008Jan25",
      "date": "2008-01-25",
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      "title": "The Proposed U.S.-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement",
      "summary": "This report addresses the proposed U.S.-Malaysia free trade agreement (FTA). It provides a brief overview of the Malaysian economy, a review of U.S. interests in the proposed agreement, an examination of possible issues likely to arise during the negotiations, a comparison of tariff rates between the two countries, legislative procedures, and an appendix with a brief chronology and trade data \u2014 including U.S. exports and imports to Malaysia by sector and exports to Malaysia by state.",
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      "id": "RL33445_2007Feb05",
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      "id": "RL33445_2007Jan10",
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      "id": "RL33445_2006Oct16",
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      "title": "The Proposed U.S.-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement",
      "summary": "This report addresses the proposed U.S.-Malaysia free trade agreement (FTA). It provides a brief overview of the Malaysian economy, a review of U.S. interests in the proposed agreement, an examination of possible issues likely to arise during the negotiations, a comparison of tariff rates between the two countries, legislative procedures, and an appendix with a brief chronology and trade data \u2014 including U.S. exports to Malaysia by sector and exports to Malaysia by state.",
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