Government exploring all options with US' withdrawal from TPPA

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is exploring all options including bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) following the withdrawal of the US from the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).
Plantation Industries & Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong said the government will explore bilateral FTAs with the countries involved in TPPA and continue to expand commodity exports to other markets.
"We have negotiated many years for TPPA and hope that President Trump will reconsider but if it does not go through, we will explore other areas. Maybe the 11 remaining countries can go ahead with TPPA. We are looking at all options," he told reporters at the 19th Malaysia Strategic Outlook Conference 2017 today.
He said the withdrawal of the US is very disappointing as Malaysia had projected to boost palm oil exports to RM20 billion by 2021 via TPPA, from RM12 billion now.