00:00Tengku Zafrul Aziz has defended the Malaysia-U.S. Reciprocal Trade Agreement,
00:06saying Puchajaya is not obligated to emulate the U.S. in imposing customs duties,
00:11prohibitions, or import restrictions on goods and services from other countries.
00:16In a Facebook video last night, the Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister slammed Perikatan
00:22National Secretary-General Azmin Ali for selectively citing certain provisions in the deal
00:27signed with the U.S. on Sunday, particularly Article 5.1.
00:32Tengku Zafrul said Puchajaya is only obligated to impose restrictions on other countries
00:38to address economic or national security concerns shared by both countries.
00:43He said the word shared in the provision was crucial, explaining that if an issue affects
00:49only the economic or national security of the U.S. and not Malaysia's,
00:53there is no need for Malaysia to consider emulating the U.S.
00:57On Monday, Azmin criticized the deal as possibly undermining the country's economic sovereignty,
01:03claiming it forces Puchajaya to follow Washington's rules and regulations surrounding trade and investment.
01:10The former trade minister said one of the deal's most damaging clauses was Article 5.1,
01:15which he claimed requires Malaysia to copy any U.S. trade restrictions or sanctions against other countries.
01:22Natasha Beast, FMT.
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