TPPA's cost-benefit analysis still not ready : Miti

PETALING JAYA: Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) has not received the full report of the cost-benefit analysis (CBA) study on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) as it is still incomplete, according to its Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
The interim report is being done by the Unit Peneraju Agenda Bumiputera (Teraju) and Institute of Strategic and International Studies (Isis), which will focus on the concerns of small-medium enterprise (SME) and bumiputras, and national interest issues.
"They (Teraju and Isis) have the interim report, but are still making adjustments based on further consultation," Mustapa told a press conference here yesterday. Pricewaterhousecoopers (PwC) undertook the report on behalf of Teraju.
Both Teraju and Isis should have submitted the interim report by end-March.
When asked whether US President Barack Obama's visit to Malaysia this weekend would help to boost the negotiation of the TPPA, he said that there are other agenda to be discussed between the two countries, include education, defense, security, science innovation and American investment trade.
However, he noted that some issues and challenges with regards to the TPPA might be discussed and is hopeful that it will give "some boost" to the TPPA.
The ministry has not set a new timeline to conclude the TPPA, which was initially expected to reach an agreement last year.
Mustapa said that among all participating countries in the TPPA, Malaysia has more issues than others, particularly in relation to market access.
"For the proposal to carve out tobacco from the TPPA, we are unhappy to say that we have no support from other countries," he said, but stressing that it is not a red line issue despite the current mandate to carve out tobacco from the TPPA.
Despite facing difficulties since the TPPA started its negotiation in March 2010, Mustapa said no formal proposal has been made to withdraw any chapter under the TPPA.
"We're still working on it (the TPPA) and the discussion on market access continues," he said.