[A-List] Malaysia, Iran, and Free Trade

["Yoshie Furuhashi" <critical.montages@xxxxxxxxx>]

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6323401.stm>
Friday, 2 February 2007, 10:26 GMT
Malaysia stands by Iran gas deal

Malaysia is threatening to end free trade talks with the United States
if it is asked to break an energy development deal with Iran.

A US legislator has raised concerns about Malaysia's $16bn (£8bn) deal
to develop Iranian gas fields and build liquefied natural gas plants
there.

The US is Malaysia's biggest trading partner and free trade talks
between them began in June last year.

Malaysia's prime minister says he will not bow to pressure from Washington.

Pressure on Iran

The US is trying to put pressure on Iran to end a nuclear programme
that it claims is aimed at developing nuclear weapons.

Iran claims that it is only trying to generate nuclear energy.

Concerns about trade between Malaysia and Iran were raised by Tom
Lantos, chair of the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs
Committee.

But with a fifth round of trade talks between the US and Malaysia
scheduled for later this month, Malaysian leaders warned they wouldn't
allow its commercial relationship with Iran to impinge on
negotiations.

"We reject the pressure being inflicted upon us... Do not bring any
political matters into trade", state news agency Bernama quoted
Abdullah Badawi as saying.

The two sides are under pressure to conclude the treaty because
President George W Bush's fast-track authority on trade deals, through
which he can ask Congress to conduct a single vote on any treaty
without making amendments, expires at the end of June.

--
Yoshie
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