Malaysia’s Mahathir says talks on world’s biggest trade deal tough with so many parties involved

The veteran leader suggested negotiations on the 16-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership were continuing in an inclusive spirit

But there has been rising talk of disagreements, the possible exclusion of a country and a delay to the pact’s conclusion until next year

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Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad at the Asean summit in Thailand on Sunday. Photo: AP

Published: 9:02pm, 3 Nov 2019Updated: 9:02pm, 3 Nov 2019

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Sunday it was going to be particularly difficult to conclude the 16-nation free-trade pact at the centre of the ongoing Asean summit because it required consensus from all the economies involved.

There has been rising talk that India, a holdout in negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership deal, could be excluded because of its steep demands, but Mahathir suggested that negotiations were continuing in the spirit of including every country.

If “one country demands something that we cannot accept, it cannot happen,” the veteran leader said in a mix of English and Malay at a briefing to local journalists on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Thailand’s Nonthaburi province.

Reports have emerged of a statement, to be released tomorrow, announcing a delay to the pact’s conclusion to some time next year, instead of earlier expectations that there would be an in-principle declaration of concluded negotiations during the summit.

National leaders shake hands during the opening ceremony of the 35th Asean summit on Sunday. Photo: AFP

The RCEP involves the 10 Asean nations and six countries the bloc already has free trade pacts with: India, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.