Kuala lumpur: Malaysia's exports to member countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) rose by 4.7 per cent to RM486.80 billion in 2025, compared with RM464.80 billion in 2024. Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani highlighted that the increase was largely driven by higher exports to several member nations, including Mexico, Chile, Singapore, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Peru.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Johari mentioned that the CPTPP has enabled Malaysian exporters to access non-traditional markets such as Canada, Mexico, and Peru, while also gaining preferential access to the UK market, which previously faced regular tariffs. The issuance of certificates of origin (CO) for the CPTPP bloc saw a significant rise to 21,993 COs in 2025, with an export value of RM7 billion, a marked increase from 6,230 COs and an export value of RM2.7 billion in 2023. This surge indicates that local companies are increasingly adept at leveraging CPTPP tariffs and exploring alternative markets.
Johari emphasized Malaysia's commitment to addressing unilateral actions challenging free trade principles through collective efforts at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). At the same time, Malaysia has pursued integrated cooperation among trading partners under free trade agreements (FTAs) without adopting a confrontational stance towards global economic powers.
Malaysia's proposal for leading integrated cooperation among the trade promotion organisations (TPOs) of the 12 CPTPP member countries received endorsement from the CPTPP Commission. This initiative aims to maximise intra-regional economic potential and support micro, small, and medium enterprises in capturing benefits from the CPTPP through enhanced market intelligence coordination and more effective trade missions.
Johari further explained that the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) have been instrumental in mobilising TPO cooperation to stimulate intra-CPTPP trade flows. MATRADE's Export Acceleration Mission programmes, focusing on non-traditional markets, have demonstrated success, most notably in Mexico, which recorded an impressive export surge of 59.7 per cent in 2025, reaching a value of RM30.1 billion.