Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (tppa)

TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (TPPA)

The Sun Daily (23 July) states that regarding the TPPA that is ongoing in Malaysia, there are party that against the TPPA because of some serious reason. The Consumers Association of Penang have gathered all parties to stand up and voice out serious implications that will happen if Malaysia sign TPPA. There are few major issues that affecting Malaysia which are medical industry, tobacco industry, copyright enforcement, tax duties, opening to international market, and any conflicts can be brought to international court. There are also adverse effect will happen ,for example, expensive medical treatment, elimination of cheaper generic product and elimination of tariff. Other that than, author also claim that TPPA will cause competition by the local suppliers, expensive education and also causing government to not be able to subsidize and control stability. International traders may take the overall market shares and has the power to sue the government. Malaysia today has already enjoy market access to many country without TPPA agreement. Therefore, it is not too late for the government to withdraw from this agreement.

Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement is the free trade associated with 12 other countries which are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam. This agreement has been so secrecy since it first making and this information can only be revealed after four years of becoming part of TPPA. There are voices doubt about what will happen to the arrival of TPPA later and there are so many flaws that should not be taken into TPPA. Now is the best time to ask why there are several parties allied with USA in political and economic make decision not to join the TPPA which are Thailand, South Korea and Taiwan. Not only that, Philippines do not accept TPPA even though US is their former colony and under US protection after what happened with China over territorial rights in the South China Sea. Malaysians should ask why Malaysia really want to sign this agreement while the most important ally of the United States did not do so. Indonesia has also made the decision to become observer.

Other than that, people are more curious because China was not invited to join TPPA. This is a deliberate agenda because USA is afraid that China will become the country's No. 1 in controlling economy. USA are more interested to work with TPP countries under their wings and confine China. Once again, Malaysians must ask whether this agreement with TPP will not adversely affect bilateral relations between Malaysia and China. This is because President Xi Jinping and PM Najib has agreed to increase bilateral trade to US $ 17O billion yearly by 2017.The federal government must make a public response towards China's reaction in this matter and exactly what are the costs and benefits of the TPP.