Malaysia to reject APEC trade pact<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia yesterday reasserted its
\nobjection to a plan for an APEC free trade pact by 2020, saying
\nthat while Australia had the right to push for it, Kuala Lumpur
\nhad the right to reject it.<\/p>\n
\"It is their right to push... We also have the right to
\nreject,\" said Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, reacting to
\nreports that his Australian counterpart Paul Keating was pushing
\nhard for the ambitious deal at the Asia Pacific Economic
\nCooperation (APEC) forum meeting in Bogor, Indonesia, on Nov. 15.<\/p>\n
Mahathir, who locked horns with Keating after being called a
\nrecalcitrant by the Australian for shunning the APEC summit in
\nSeattle last year, said this time he would attend the meeting to
\nreaffirm Malaysia's stance.<\/p>\n
Analysts believe that Malaysia would prefer advancing its idea
\nfor an economic caucus for East Asia, as it has repeatedly
\nopposed moves to institutionalize APEC, saying it was meant to
\nremain a loose economic forum.<\/p>\n
The Mahathir-initiated East Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC),
\naiming to be a loose consultative forum for East Asian economies,
\nhas long been stalled by U.S. objections to what it sees as a new
\ntrade bloc.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah
\nAziz said on Tuesday that APEC had no mandate to draw up a
\ndeadline for the creation of a free trade zone.<\/p>\n
\"We have already stated our stand earlier. I have no mandate
\nto change this stand,\" Mahathir was reported as saying by the
\nBernama news agency.<\/p>\n
Mahathir said he was not expected to meet separately with U.S.
\nPresident Bill Clinton while in Bogor.<\/p>\n
\"In Seattle the last time around, he (Clinton) was the host so
\nhe met each and everyone. But this time we will be meeting him in
\nhis capacity as a fellow participant,\" Mahathir said.<\/p>\n
APEC, formed in 1989, groups the six members of the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations -- Brunei, Indonesia,
\nMalaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand -- and
\nAustralia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Mexico,
\nNew Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan and the United States.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/malaysia-to-reject-apec-trade-pact-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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