Malaysia –
The United States and Malaysia signed a
Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA) on Tuesday, marking
a significant milestone in collaboration on security and trade facilitation
between the two countries. U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant
Secretary
Alan Bersin signed the agreement on behalf of the United
States and Deputy Finance Minister 1 Datuk Ahmad Maslan signed the agreement on
behalf of Malaysia.
“Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements are valuable tools in law enforcement
as they facilitate information sharing with international partners,” said
Assistant Secretary Bersin. “This agreement will improve coordination in
combating illicit cross-border activities and will enable both countries to
better prevent, detect, and investigate customs offenses.”
This signing reflects the strength of the U.S.-Malaysia relationship and the
increased level of bilateral engagement and cooperation in recent years. The
United States and Malaysia work together on a broad range of issues, including
trade and investment, education, security and defense, and the environment.
This close collaboration is reflected in the Comprehensive Partnership
Agreement, signed by Prime Minister Najib and President Obama this year.
CMAAs are bilateral agreements between countries and are enforced by their
respective customs administrations. CMAAs provide the legal framework for the
exchange of information and cooperation. They help countries prevent, detect
and investigate customs offenses and crimes associated with goods crossing
international borders, including duty evasion, trafficking, proliferation, money
laundering, and terrorism-related activities.