MALAYSIA will continue to have collaborative diplomatic, trade and investment relations with Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) members despite the major global constraints and challenges following China’s implementation of its zero-Covid policy. 

International Trade and Industry Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali said his ministry has taken note of the many reports and studies published on trade moderation or dampening resulting from the policy. 

However, he said, the country has continued to record encouraging trade performance up to the middle of this year following the signing of the RCEP. 

“The closure of borders undoubtedly has an impact on the facilitation of trade and investment between China and other RCEP member nations. 

“However, (there’s little impact) if we look at Malaysia’s trade performance for June, which increased by 43.4% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM270.39 billion, as well as our trade with RCEP member China, which saw a double-digit growth for the 19th successive month,” he said in reply to a supplementary question from Darell Leiking (Warisan-Penampang) in the Dewan Rakyat today. 

Darell wanted to know the extent to which China’s zero-Covid policy had affected Malaysia’s trade with its RCEP partners. He originally asked about the impact on national trade since the RCEP agreement came into force in Malaysia in March, as well as the industries currently being prioritised by the government. 

Azmin said Malaysia continued to post encouraging growth in the April-June period following the signing of the regional trade pact on March 18 this year. 

In April, Malaysia’s total trade surged 21.3% y-o-y to RM231.44 billion, with exports increasing 20.7% to RM127.49 billion. The trade and export figures continued to rise in May to RM228.37 billion and RM120.49 billion, respectively. 

“In June, the country recorded the highest value for trade, exports and imports for the year whereby trade increased 43.4% y-o-y to RM270.39 billion,” he said. 

On RCEP’s impact on the country’s trade, Azmin said it was too early to assess, as Malaysia ratified the agreement only in March.

He said exporters and importers must have Preferential Certificates of Origin (PCO) to enable them to enjoy duty exemptions or reductions under any free trade agreement (FTA).

“From March to June 30, 73 such certificates have been issued with an export value of RM31.9 million for the export of goods under the RCEP agreement,” he said. 

PCO is an international document that proves exported or imported goods fulfil the criteria stipulated in the rules of the original chapter of the agreement. 

This includes the verification of the importing country’s customs in order to enjoy tariff concessions under the respective FTAs. – Bernama, July 27, 2022.