Malaysia To Host Second Round Of EU Free Trade Talks In November
KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is expected to host the second round of negotiations for the Malaysia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (MEUFTA) in November 2025, according to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI).
The ministry said the first round of MEUFTA talks took place in Brussels, Belgium, from June 30 to July 4, 2025, with 21 chapters currently under negotiation with the European Union (EU).
'In addition to traditional chapters such as trade in goods, rules of origin, customs and trade facilitation, services, and investment, the FTA with the EU also includes new chapters such as sustainable food systems and trade and sustainable development -- topics which were not included when talks first began in 2010,' MITI said in a written reply published on the Parliament website today.
The response was to a question by Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad (BN–Simpang Renggam) on whether MITI plans to resume FTA talks with the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the areas of focus.
MITI added that in 2024, bilateral trade between Malaysia and the EU reached RM218.9 billion (US$1=RM4.23), with exports totalling RM115.8 billion and imports RM103.1 billion.
Malaysia's main exports to the EU included electrical and electronic products, manufactured goods, palm oil and related products, processed foods, and optical and scientific equipment.
From 2021 to 2024, the total approved investments from EU countries in Malaysia's manufacturing and services sectors, overseen by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), amounted to RM198.2 billion.
Meanwhile, on the Malaysia-GCC FTA, Malaysia signed a joint statement with the GCC on May 26, 2025, to launch negotiations on an FTA between the two parties.
The first round of negotiations is scheduled to take place in September 2025.
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