While there are some benefits that will accrue to Malaysia from a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States, the disadvantages, it is apparent, will outweigh its advantages.

In trading terms, the US is Malaysia's biggest single country market. The total value of our exports to the US stood at RM110.56 billion last year. Since the FTA bestows a preferential trading position upon Malaysia, it is hoped that the volume of trade especially in manufactured goods will expand.

But an agreement seems unlikely. Those critical questions which have impeded negotiations for more than eight months now, remain unanswered after five rounds of talks in Malaysia and the US.