Trans-Pacific Partnership won't harm agriculture - Miti

 

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will not have a negative impact on the agriculture sector, said Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong.

He said the CPTPP, which came into force on Nov 29, will protect the interest of local farmers as it is one of the few free trade agreements which recognises the issue of food security.

“It is clear that the CPTPP will not have a negative impact on the agriculture sector,” Liew told Parliament.

It will also not jeopardise subsidies meant for agriculture exports, he added.

“The claim that the CPTPP will not allow the government to implement bans on basic food exports such as chicken is not true,” the deputy minister said.

He added that it will also not result in the sudden eradication of import duties on agricultural products.

Liew noted that Malaysia depends on food imports, where 50 percent of food is imported such as mutton and beef.

“For 2020, the average of duty imports for agricultural products was about 13.8 percent and it further declined to 7.9 percent in 2021,” he added.

At the same time, Malaysia has been given a longer staging period - 16 years - for the purpose of reducing and eradicating import duties, including agricultural products, he said.

“Additionally, Malaysia does not need to eradicate fully its import duties for chickens and eggs under the CPTPP, and we can still maintain the tariff rate quota system,” he said.

- Bernama