Crucial for Asean to broker agreements with EU in 2025, says envoy

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim with the president of the European Council Antonio Costa in Brussels earlier this year. (Bernama pic)

GEORGE TOWN: 

Swedish ambassador to Malaysia Niklas Wiberg says 2025 will be a crucial year for Asean countries to broker free trade agreements with the European Union.

Wiberg said there was a need for Asean to negotiate as many free trade agreements with Europe as possible, as such deals would bring about additional economic benefits.

He also welcomed Malaysia’s move to restart talks on a free trade agreement with the EU, following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Brussels in January.

Wiberg said the Swedes and the EU were trying their best to restart talks on the Malaysia-EU free trade agreement.

Niklas Wiberg.

“That’s a serious attempt from our side,” he told FMT at an event here.

Sweden and the EU are looking to strengthen trade ties with Malaysia and other nations as a counter to US protectionist policies.

“Our response to what’s happening (in relation to US policies) is to continue the important work that is being done, the investments that have been coming from Europe to Malaysia and the trade in both directions, and to increase that.”

US president Donald Trump recently threatened a 200% tariff on wine and champagne from EU countries in retaliation for the 50% levy on American bourbon whiskey.

The EU’s decision to impose a tariff, which comes into effect on April 1, was in response to Trump’s 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.

Wiberg also said green energy was important for Asean’s future and urged Malaysia to step up work on the Asean Power Grid (APG) and regional collaboration on green electricity.

The APG aims to connect Southeast Asia’s electricity networks to boost energy security and renewable energy use.

It allows countries to trade electricity, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Projects like the Laos-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore (LTMS) interconnection are already in place, but challenges like high costs and differing regulations remain.

Sweden and the EU see climate change as a real crisis and want to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, Wiberg said.

“We think that Asia, Southeast Asia, Malaysia and its neighbouring countries also share that perspective, and then it’s more about how we implement it and how we get to a fossil-free future together.” - FMT