New rules for SMEs

Wan Khatina says SMEs also need to work out the benefits coming to them arising from the lower tariffs and to work out any other rules, in particular, the rules of origin (ROO) for their products.

SMALL and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need to start understanding the rules, regulations, and requirements incorporated into the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), said Khazanah Research Institute research director Wan Khatina Nawawi.

Speaking to MetroBiz, she said they may need to do a cost and benefit analysis to see whether the costs of making changes to their internal strategies and operations to fulfil these new requirements would be offset by the benefits of expanding into new markets.