The United States' new ambassador to Malaysia on Wednesday urged both countries to conclude negotiations for a free trade agreement after a missed deadline appears to have slowed the pace of talks.
"It's very important that we continue our discussions. The FTA is an opportunity for the US and Malaysia to partner," US ambassador-designate James Keith told reporters. "We all face the same challenges. There's tremendous competition out there in the global economy and it's important that we find ways to maximise our strong points," he said.
Washington had been racing to conclude the agreement before President George W. Bush lost his Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) to "fast-track" trade deals at the end of June. The expiry date gave US negotiators up to March 31 to present a deal for a mandatory 90-day review by the US Congress.
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