UK, Malaysia Initiate Negotiations On Digital Trade Agreement
KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (Bernama) -- British High Commission Kuala Lumpur has announced the commencement of negotiations on a new digital trade agreement (DTA) between the United Kingdom (UK) and Malaysia.
In a statement, it said the DTA aims to make digital trade with Malaysia easier, cheaper and more secure through cross-border data flows, while reducing paperwork and border friction through digital systems and ensuring strong protections for personal data, intellectual property, online consumers and cybersecurity.
“The deal aims to strengthen international digital and tech cooperation by supporting responsible innovation in areas like artificial intelligence (AI) and data, while creating new partnerships that boost efficient supply chains, infrastructure and global competitiveness,” it said.
UK Trade Minister Chris Bryant said the negotiations with Malaysia mark an important step in strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader in digital trade.
“A UK-Malaysia digital trade agreement has the potential to unlock new opportunities for British businesses, support high‑skilled jobs, and ensure our firms can compete and thrive in fast‑growing, tech‑driven markets,” he said.
According to the British High Commission, the UK is a world leader in digital trade and has a growing trading relationship with Malaysia, worth £6.4 billion (£1 = RM 4.73) in 2025.
It said the UK exported £730 million worth of digitally delivered services to Malaysia in 2023, while the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates that in 2022, exports to Malaysia supported 31,100 UK jobs.
-- BERNAMA