The Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations:Challenges and Prospects for Malaysia

Introduction Over the past decade Malaysia’s forward-looking leaders,concerned about their country’s overall long term competitive position in the global economy vis-a-vis neighboring low labor cost countries such as China,Vietnam and Indonesia,have been looking for a free trade arrangement with the United States.Their goal has been to elevateit from middle income status to become a technologically-advanced,knowledgebased economy on par with Singapore.