Malaysia unlikely to implement CPTPP in early 2019, needs more time to table laws

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is unlikely to be among the first batch members to implement the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in early 2019, according to International Trade & Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
He explained that there is insufficient time to table the remaining 18 laws in the Parliament by year end, a move to fulfill the partnership agreement.
"We're required to amend 19 laws, so far we've only done one, so we've 18 to go. To be realistic, it's not possible for Malaysia to do all the 18 laws this year. Some can be done this year, but not all," he said at a media briefing today.
Last November, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was resurrected as the CPTPP minus 20 provisions, including those in the intellectual property segment, specifically biologics, patent term adjustment and copyrights, which are of particular interest to Malaysia.
After the US pulled out from original TPP, the CPTPP is now left with 11 members, including Australia, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, Canada and Mexico.
The final text of the CPTPP was released last month and the deal is expected to be signed in Chile this Thursday.