Potential for Trade Partnership with Malaysia, Through the Lens of USTR Ron Kirk

On the Breakfast Grille, we speak to United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk. He is a member of President Barack Obama's Cabinet and serves as the President's principal trade advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson on trade issues. Ambassador Kirk was in Southeast Asia to discuss current issues in US trade and investment with Asia Pacific economies.

He discusses: 

-- growth in two-way trade between Malaysia and US in the next 5 years

-- how the trade relationship could be affected by Malaysia's move uo the value chain, from a low-cost manufacturing country to a high-income nation

-- issues that hampered talks on the Malaysia-US Free Trade agreement, such as the uneven tarrif structure

-- also where the US stands on the issue of the New Economic Policy, which has been said to be favoring the indigenous Malays especially in the area of government procurement, and if American investors could be discouraged by this policy, as it can be construed as an unequal playing field in business

-- how detrimental is corruption and the perceived lack of transparency in Malaysia to doing business with us

-- trade issue between the US and China -- will there be more trade friction with China going forward

-- the implications of Malaysia being on the Special 301 Report, which identifies countries that do not provide "adequate and effective" protection of intellectual property rights

-- why he has continued to push for free trade, even with the high unemployment rateand the anxiety about protecting American jobs