Australia's former Minister for Trade, Craig Emerson, and Malaysia’s Minister for International Trade and Industry, Mustapa Mohamed, signed the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (MAFTA) in Kuala Lumpur on 22 May 2012. The Agreement entered into force on 1 January 2013.
MAFTA is a comprehensive, high-quality agreement that further integrates the Australian economy into the fast-growing Asian region. The Agreement builds on benefits already flowing to the Australian economy from the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, which started for Australia and Malaysia in 2010.
Malaysia is Australia’s 9th largest trading partner, with two-way trade worth $17.7 billion in the 2012 calendar year. The Agreement opens avenues for Australian goods and services into the dynamic Malaysian market.
MAFTA is an important part of the network of Free Trade Agreements in this region that Australia is pursuing to advance our trade interests in the Asian Century.
MAFTA: the benefits
Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement
The Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement is another step forward for Australia in the Asian Century. The Agreement reduces trade barriers, making it easier for Australians to do business in Malaysia – our 10th largest trading partner.
The Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (MAFTA) builds on the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA (AANZFTA) to open up new opportunities for Australian investors and suppliers of goods and services, bringing our economies closer together. This high-quality free trade agreement improves access to the Malaysian market for Australian businesses and makes it easier for Australian workers and their families to live and work in Malaysia.
"MAFTA is a game changer. It's one of the best free trade agreements we've seen and AMBC is 150 per cent behind it."
Larry Gould | National President, Australia Malaysia Business Council (AMBC)
Why Malaysia?
Malaysia is one of