Malaysia

“Trade Policy Reviews” analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - “key trade facts” - provides a visual overview of the WTO member’s major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Malaysia.

“Trade Policy Reviews” analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - “key trade facts” - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Malaysia.

This is Malaysia’s Seventh Trade Policy Review at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Trade has historically been an engine of growth and continues to play an important role in the Malaysian economy. Malaysia’s trade policy is aimed at creating a free and fair trading environment with a vision to make the country one of the most competitive trading nation by 2020.

The Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) was first established on a trial basis by the GATT contracting parties in April 1989. The Mechanism became a permanent feature of the World Trade Organization under the Marrakesh Agreement which established the WTO in January 1995.

The growth of private higher education institutions (PHEIs) in Malaysia is politically and economically motivated. Excess demand and the use of ethnic quotas in a limited number of public universities with the implementation of the New Economic Policy in 1970 had raised the potential for inter-ethnic conflicts in multi-ethnic Malaysia. The government therefore utilized private provision to supplement public supply, thereby increasing access and reducing the possibility of inter-ethnic conflicts due to limited access. Over time, the perennial deficit in services trade since independence in 1957 contributed to the idea of using private higher education to reduce student outflows and its negative impact on services trade and, instead, to increase export revenues through inflows of international students. This led to the aspiration to be a regional hub for higher education based on Malaysia’s comparative advantage in terms of costs and language via the use of English in transnational programmes offered in PHEIs, with degrees awarded by parent institutions in developed countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom.

The seventh Trade Policy Review of Malaysia has offered us a good opportunity to deepen our understanding of its trade and investment policies. I would like to thank the Malaysian delegation, led by H.E. J. Jayasiri, Secretary General of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, for its constructive engagement throughout this Review. I would also like to thank the discussant, H.E. Ambassador Claudio de la Puente of Peru for his insightful remarks, and all the delegations that took the floor for their valuable contributions. The 476 questions submitted by 27 Members, and the interventions by 43 delegations underline the importance attached to Malaysia’s trade and investment policies and practices. Malaysia’s use of the alternative timeframe to reply to advance written questions to this TPR was also appreciated.

On 8 October 1996, India, Malaysia, Pakistan and Thailand requested consultations with the United States concerning a ban on importation of shrimp and shrimp products from these complainants imposed by the US under Section 609 of US Public Law 101-162. Violations of Articles I, XI and XIII of the GATT 1994, as well nullification and impairment of benefits, were alleged.

Le 11 juillet 2019, l’OMC a distribué deux rapports du Groupe spécial chargé des affaires “États-Unis — Certaines mesures visant les produits en acier et en aluminium” (DS550) et “États-Unis — Certaines mesures visant les produits en acier et en aliminium” (DS551) introduites par le Canada et le Mexique, respectivement.

Le 28 juin 2014, l’OMC a distribué le rapport du Groupe spécial dans les affaires introduites par le Honduras, la République dominicaine, Cuba et l’Indonésie “Australie — Certaines mesures concernant les marques de fabrique ou de commerce, les indications géographiques et autres prescriptions en matière d’emballage neutre applicables aux produits du tabac et à leur emballage” (DS435, DS441, DS458 et DS467)

Le 2 septembre 2020, l’OMC a distribué le rapport du Groupe spécial chargé d’examiner l’affaire introduite par la Chine “États-Unis — Mesure de sauvegarde visant les importations de produits photovoltaïques au silicium cristallin” (DS562).

El 15 de junio de 2001, la OMC hizo público el informe del Grupo especial sobre el caso “Estados Unidos - Prohibición de importar ciertos camarones y sus productos - Recurso”.

El 11 de julio de 2019, la OMC distribuyó dos informes del Grupo Especial que entendió en los asuntos planteados por el Canadá y México: “Estados Unidos — Determinadas medidas relativas a los productos de acero y aluminio” (DS550) y “Estados Unidos — Determinadas medidas relativas a los productos de acero y aluminio” (DS551).

On 11 July 2019 the WTO circulated two panel report in the cases brought by Canada and Mexico in “United States — Certain Measures on Steel and Aluminium Products” (DS550) and “United States — Certain Measures on Steel and Aluminium Products” (DS551).

On 9 June 2020 the Appellate Body issued its reports in the cases brought by Honduras and the Dominican Republic in “Australia — Certain Measures Concerning Trademarks, Geographical Indications and Other Plain Packaging Requirements Applicable to Tobacco Products and Packaging” (DS435 and DS441).