Malaysia, singled out, tells Japan to back off<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad told
\nJapan yesterday to quit accusing Malaysia of hampering World
\nTrade Organization (WTO) talks to free up the telecommunications
\nsector because it has yet to submit any offers despite next
\nweek's deadline.<\/p>\n
\"There is no need to accuse each other,\" he said, commenting
\non a news report Wednesday quoting Japanese officials that
\nMalaysia was among several countries which were stumbling blocks
\nto the negotiations, scheduled to be wrapped up on Feb. 15.<\/p>\n
\"Japan, too, has problems. They are also strict (in other
\nsectors). We want to sell canned pineapples, for example, the
\ncountry imposes many restrictions,\" he was quoted as saying by
\nthe state-run Bernama news agency.<\/p>\n
Japanese Post and Telecommunications Ministry officials
\nsingled out Malaysia, the United States, Canada and Mexico as
\nhindering progress on the WTO accord to liberalize the global
\ntelecommunications sector.<\/p>\n
They said some major developing countries such as Malaysia
\nhave not made any offers, while others which have already made
\ntheir offers, did not include specific deadlines.<\/p>\n
So far, 54 of the WTO's 129 members have come up with measures
\non how to open up their sectors.<\/p>\n
Asked when Malaysia would be making its offers, Mahathir
\nmerely said: \"We need to take care of our national interest.\"<\/p>\n
The deadline for the WTO negotiations to reach a global accord
\nwas extended to February 15 after members failed to conclude an
\nagreement by the previous deadline of April 30 last year.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/malaysia-singled-out-tells-japan-to-back-off-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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