TWN Info Service on Free Trade Agreements

16 January 2007


Group Wants Halt to US-FTA, Wider Issues to be Addressed

In response to the International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz’s statement last week (see TWN FTA Info: Government denies FTA Will Hurt Rice Farmers, 12 Jan 2007) denying that the FTA talks with the US will hurt rice farmers, the Anti-US FTA Action Committee for the Northern Region has come out saying they are not happy with mere assurances and want the government to halt further negotiations on the US-FTA until the effect on farmers is known and that food security will not be compromised.

They urged the government to address the wider non-trade issues related to the FTA that will have a negative impact especially on the livelihood and welfare of rural communities.



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Committee: Rafidah skirting main FTA issues
Jan 16, 07 4:32pm, Malaysiakini.com

International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz has not addressed the main concerns surrounding the US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), claimed a regional grouping of fishermen and farmers today.

In a statement, the Anti-US FTA Action Committee for the Northern Region, which also represents environmental, consumer and rural groups, said the government has to be forthcoming on many aspects of the FTA, not just on the issue of rice imports.

Last week, Rafidah said Malaysian rice farmers would not be affected by the FTA as rice had been excluded from the talks with the US. She also said rice imported from the US came to only 346.8 metric tonnes, less than 0.1 percent of Malaysia’s total rice imports in 2006.
“In our view, the US FTA will not just impact trade, but will impact our livelihood as well as our welfare, especially (those of us in) rural communities who will bear the brunt of the impact,” read the statement signed by committee representative Che Ani Mat Zain.
Cost-benefit assessment

Che Ani, who heads a farmers’ committee in Kedah, said the government had yet to explain how higher intellectual property protection measures as contained in the FTA will not drive up the price of medicine and educational materials, among other things.

He said there is also concern that chemical materials used by farmers will be more expensive, while protection measures and other incentives for small-holders will be seen as non-tariff barriers and done away with.

“We are very concerned that the Malaysian government has not done a comprehensive cost-benefit assessment with regards to the US-FTA and is proceeding with negotiations without any information or consultations with farmers like us and the public,” he said.

“We urge the Malaysian government to halt further negotiations on the US-FTA until we know how it will effect our farmers, that food security will not be compromised, and the full extent of its impact on the public especially rural communities. It is not enough to give us mere assurances,” he added.

Last week, Che Ani disclosed that a signature campaign in Kedah demanding that the government calls off its talks with the US had won the support from 20,000 fishermen and farmers.

The campaign, part of an on-going awareness campaign on the FTA targeting mainly farming communities in northern Malaysia, will be submitted to Rafidah and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.