Malaysia runs one of Asia's densest trade-agreement networks: eight in-force bilateral FTAs, seven in-force ASEAN-wide agreements, plus the two mega-regionals CPTPP and RCEP, all administered by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI). The newest in force is the Malaysia-UAE CEPA (1 October 2025), Malaysia's first with a Gulf state. The Malaysia-EFTA agreement (MEEPA) was signed on 23 June 2025 but is not yet in force.
- MITI is the single administering body for all of Malaysia's FTAs and the CO/PCO system used to claim preferences.
- The Malaysia-Japan EPA (13 July 2006) was Malaysia's first bilateral FTA; the Malaysia-UAE CEPA (1 October 2025) is its most recent in force.
- RCEP entered into force for Malaysia on 18 March 2022 and the CPTPP on 29 November 2022.
- The CPTPP grew to 12 parties after the United Kingdom acceded on 15 December 2024.
- MEEPA (Malaysia-EFTA), signed 23 June 2025, is signed but not yet in force — preferences cannot be claimed until it enters into force.
Who this applies to: Exporters, importers, trade compliance officers, and businesses assessing tariff preferences and market access from Malaysia.
On this page
Malaysia maintains one of Asia’s densest networks of trade agreements. A Malaysian exporter can often, on the same shipment, choose between an ASEAN preference, a bilateral rate, or a mega-regional schedule — and the choice can change the duty paid at the border. This page lays the whole network out in one view.
Everything below is taken from MITI’s FTA portal and is current as at August 2026. Status and dates change — check MITI before you rely on a single figure.
Who runs Malaysia’s FTAs?
All of them sit with one ministry: the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI). MITI negotiates the agreements, publishes the tariff schedules and rules of origin, and runs the Certificate of Origin / Preferential Certificate of Origin (CO/PCO) system that lets exporters actually claim a preference. If you are working out which agreement gives the best rate into a given market, MITI’s portal is the authoritative starting point — not a trade-press summary.
What bilateral FTAs does Malaysia have?
Eight bilateral agreements are in force, plus one signed but not yet operational. The Malaysia-Japan EPA opened the series in 2006; the Malaysia-UAE CEPA — Malaysia’s first with a Gulf Cooperation Council state — is the newest in force.
| Agreement | Partner | Status | Entry into force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia-Japan EPA (MJEPA) | Japan | In force | 13 Jul 2006 |
| Malaysia-Pakistan CEPA (MPCEPA) | Pakistan | In force | 1 Jan 2008 |
| Malaysia-New Zealand FTA (MNZFTA) | New Zealand | In force | 1 Aug 2010 |
| Malaysia-India CECA (MICECA) | India | In force | 1 Jul 2011 |
| Malaysia-Chile FTA (MCFTA) | Chile | In force | 25 Feb 2012 |
| Malaysia-Australia FTA (MAFTA) | Australia | In force | 1 Jan 2013 |
| Malaysia-Turkey FTA (MTFTA) | Turkey | In force | 1 Aug 2015 |
| Malaysia-UAE CEPA | United Arab Emirates | In force | 1 Oct 2025 |
| Malaysia-EFTA EPA (MEEPA) | Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland | Signed, not in force | Signed 23 Jun 2025 |
MEEPA is the one to watch — and the one not to over-claim. MITI is explicit that it is signed but not yet in force, and that Malaysian exporters and importers cannot use its preferences until ratification completes on both sides.
What regional agreements is Malaysia part of?
Malaysia’s regional access comes in two layers: the ASEAN-wide “ASEAN+1” agreements, and the two large plurilaterals that overlay them.
| Agreement | Coverage | Status | Entry into force |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA/ATIGA) | ASEAN | In force | 1993 |
| ASEAN-China FTA (ACFTA) | ASEAN + China | In force | 1 Jul 2003 |
| ASEAN-Korea FTA (AKFTA) | ASEAN + Korea | In force | 1 Jul 2006 |
| ASEAN-Japan CEP (AJCEP) | ASEAN + Japan | In force | 1 Feb 2009 |
| ASEAN-Australia-NZ FTA (AANZFTA) | ASEAN + Australia + NZ | In force | 1 Jan 2010 |
| ASEAN-India FTA (AIFTA) | ASEAN + India | In force | 1 Jan 2010 |
| ASEAN-Hong Kong FTA (AHKFTA) | ASEAN + Hong Kong | In force | 13 Oct 2019 |
| RCEP | ASEAN + 5 partners | In force | 18 Mar 2022 (for Malaysia) |
| CPTPP | 12 Pacific-rim parties | In force | 29 Nov 2022 (for Malaysia) |
Two preferential (partial-scope) schemes sit alongside these: the TPS-OIC among Organisation of Islamic Cooperation members and the D-8 Preferential Tariff Agreement, both recorded by MITI as in force from 1 October 2023.
How do CPTPP and RCEP differ?
Both are mega-regionals, but they solve different problems for a Malaysian business:
- RCEP brings together the 10 ASEAN members plus Australia, China, Japan, Korea and New Zealand — 15 economies. Its value is a single rulebook and one rules-of-origin regime stitched over agreements that already existed, so components sourced across the bloc can accumulate toward origin.
- CPTPP is a deeper, higher-standard agreement covering labour, environment, state-owned enterprises and government procurement, reaching markets Malaysia had no bilateral deal with — Canada, Mexico and Peru. It entered into force for Malaysia on 29 November 2022 and grew to 12 parties when the United Kingdom acceded on 15 December 2024, the first economy to join after the original signatories.
For a shipment to, say, Japan, a Malaysian exporter may therefore have several routes — MJEPA, AJCEP, RCEP or CPTPP — and the best one depends on the product’s tariff line and which rule of origin it can satisfy.
What’s next
If you export, do not stop at “Malaysia has an FTA with that country.” Check the specific tariff line under each applicable agreement, confirm the rule of origin your product can meet, and apply for the right CO/PCO through MITI. Watch MEEPA: once it enters into force it is expected to open duty-free access to the large majority of Malaysia’s exports into the four EFTA states, but until MITI records an entry-into-force date, its preferences cannot be claimed.
How many free trade agreements does Malaysia have in force?
Seventeen by MITI's core count: eight bilateral FTAs (including the Malaysia-UAE CEPA), seven ASEAN-wide agreements, and the two mega-regionals RCEP and CPTPP. Adding the two partial-scope preferential schemes MITI also administers — the TPS-OIC and the D-8 Preferential Tariff Agreement — brings the total to nineteen.
Which was Malaysia's first free trade agreement?
At ASEAN level, the ASEAN Free Trade Area from 1993. Malaysia's first bilateral FTA was the Malaysia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, in force from 13 July 2006.
Is the Malaysia-EFTA agreement (MEEPA) usable yet?
No. MITI states MEEPA was signed on 23 June 2025 but is not yet in force, so exporters and importers cannot use its preferences until both sides complete ratification.
The following are deliberately unstated or described only qualitatively until confirmed by a subject-matter expert:
- Whether MITI's own headline tally counts the in-force network as 17 (core FTAs) or 19 (including TPS-OIC and D-8) at the time of human review.
- The 'more than 90% of Malaysia's exports' duty-free coverage figure for MEEPA once it enters into force.
- TPS-OIC and D-8 Preferential Tariff Agreement entry-into-force dates (recorded as 1 October 2023).
- Live status of MEEPA — confirm no entry-into-force date has since been recorded by MITI.
Sources
- Free Trade Agreements (FTA) — Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI)
- Malaysia-EFTA Economic Partnership Agreement (MEEPA) — Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI)
- Notice: Entry into Force of the Malaysia - United Arab Emirates CEPA — Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI)
- The UK and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) — UK Department for Business and Trade
- Free Trade Agreement (FTA) brochure — MATRADE
Change history
| Version | Date | Change | By |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01.00 | 1 Aug 2026 | Approved and published. | — |