KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 6): Malaysia has won several concessions from parties to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), yet the country would never be party to an agreement that violated the nation's Constitution or one that undermined the core policies instituted by the government to benefit the people, according to International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

"Let me reiterate that whether or not Malaysia becomes a party to the TPPA will be a collective decision. Once the complete and official text of the agreement is prepared, it will be in the public domain and presented to Parliament for debate. We will also hold full consultations with interested parties and the public," Mustapa highlighted in the recently concluded negotiations held in the US city of Atlanta.

He stressed that Malaysia would only sign the TPPA after full and extensive discussions within the country.

On the issue of intellectual property rights, Malaysia had stood firm that the TPPA should not hinder the public's accessibility to affordable drugs and health care, while at the same time ensuring the necessary incentives for pharmaceutical innovators to produce new drugs and medicines.

"In relation to this, all parties have achieved a mutually agreed balance to ensure that their interests are taken into consideration," Mustapa said in a statement.

On market access, a fundamental element in any free trade agreement, Malaysia has concluded its negotiations with all parties.

"Good offers were made by all parties in which import duties for almost all products will be eliminated. Essentially, the outcome will provide Malaysian companies with greater market-access opportunities, particularly in markets such as the US, Canada, Mexico and Peru with which Malaysia does not have FTAs (free trade agreements)," the minister said.

"Besides, Malaysian exporters are expected to gain competitive advantage over regional competitors in exporting products, such as from our electrical and electronics sector, chemical products, palm oil products, rubber products, wood products, textiles as well as automotive parts and components. All of these represent major exports for Malaysia and generate huge amounts of revenue for our national economy and employ tens of thousands of Malaysians.

"We firmly believe that through TPPA, we will be able to further promote our trade and investment agenda and help Malaysia mitigate the challenges of the global economic environment. As an open economy and a country which has benefited from an open trade and investment regime, we not only need to move in tandem with regional and global developments but also need to improve our competitiveness," said Mustapa.