By EMBUN MAJID
ALOR STAR:
The full implementation of the China-Asean Free Trade Area (CAFTA) from
Jan 1 this year will allow more products from this country to be
marketed in China.
Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said there would be zero tariff on 9,000 products.
“The tariffs on several thousands of other products are being reviewed to be included in the list.
“This will provide better opportunities for Malaysia to market its
products in China,” he said after launching the AgroBanks’s AgroKasih-i
protection scheme for padi farmers in Kerpan near here Sunday.
He said between January and October last year, the volume of trade
between Malaysia and China was about RM109bil and they were mostly
electrical components, chemical, palm oil and automotive.
“Our
trade with China are in commodities and products and it is my hope that
under CAFTA, Malaysia will market more of its consumer products such as
food and services to China,” he said.
He said that this was especially in halal food products that are in good demand in China.
Mukhriz said the ministry would assist small and medium-scale industries that want to market their halal food in China.
This included sending them to attend trade fairs in China to introduce their products.
He said among others, trade fairs would be held in Guangzhou in May and
November as well as in Nanning and Szechuan in October.
