The Malaysian Government has yet to decide on whether the country would ratify the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) or not, the local news agency Bernama quoted an official as saying.
Malaysian Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Ong Kian Ming (Source: Malay Mail)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - The Malaysian Government hasyet to decide on whether the country would ratify the Comprehensive andProgressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) or not, thelocal news agency Bernama quoted an official as saying.
Speaking at a session of the Dewan Negara – the upper houseof the Parliament of Malaysia - on July 24, Malaysian Deputy Minister ofInternational Trade and Industry Ong Kian Ming said the Government needs moretime to assess related clauses as the deal is a complex and comprehensiveagreement.
He said commitments agreed under the CPTPP have asignificant impact on some of the country’s current laws, policies andregulations, including those under the jurisdiction of the state governments.
The official noted the government is responsible forensuring that every free trade agreement signed by the Malaysian governmentemphasises free and fair trade in line with the government's nationaldevelopment policies for economic benefits that can be distributed to targetgroups.
According to Ong, related government agencies andnon-governmental bodies have conducted a study to evaluate whether the CPTPPwould have positive or negative effects on the Malaysia.
The CPTPP is a renegotiated trade deal borne out of theTrans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) after the US pulled out from the TPP.
The pact was signed earlier this year by the remaining 11TPP member countries, namely Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia,Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. Currently, only Malaysia, Brunei,Chile and Peru have yet to ratify the agreement.-VNA
The 11-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) officially came into force on December 30, creating a free trade area covering more than a tenth of the global economy.
Thai media on February 9 quoted Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak as saying that he had ordered the Commerce Ministry to submit a request to become a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Canada’s Minister of International Trade Diversification Jim Carr and Minister of Infrastructure and Communities François-Philippe Champagne attended a ceremony in Vancouver on February 11 to mark the coming into force of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will help create a more favourable environment for Vietnam and Mexico to bolster their economic, trade and investment ties, Vietnam’s Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Hoai Duong said.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
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Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
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Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
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In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
The new framework is designed to ensure that incoming investments deliver tangible national benefits, such as the creation of high-quality jobs for Malaysians and the development of local company ecosystems and technologies.
Singapore led with a total of 8.8 billion USD in realised investment, followed by Hong Kong and mainland China, Malaysia, and Japan with 8 billion USD, 1.7 billion USD and 1.6 billion USD, respectively.
Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on August 7 outlined his strategy for tackling drug problems in Thailand, aiming for a "Zero Drugs Thailand" within three months.
The US has described Malaysia's role as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as vital in helping ease tension between Thailand and Cambodia.
Indonesia ranks as the world's sixth-largest gold reserve holder, producing an estimated 160 to 200 tonnes annually, mainly through major state-owned enterprises. Despite this, much of the mined gold is held or traded abroad. In 2024 alone, Indonesia exported gold worth 5.4 billion USD while reimporting 2.6 billion USD worth of the metal.
Cambodia and Thailand vowed not to undertake provocative actions that may escalate tensions, including entering the other side’s air space and territory, and refrain from constructing or enhancing military infrastructure.
Trenggono emphasised that the Indonesian government aims to increase the total coverage of MPAs to 97.5 million hectares by 2045. This initiative forms a key component of the “Golden Indonesia 2045” vision, which prioritises sustainable maritime development and environmental protection.
Malaysian Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Ong Kian Ming (Source: Malay Mail) 
