Nasheed: Parliament must make a decision on Maldives-China free trade agreement

Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed, on Monday, questioned the purpose of the free trade agreement signed with China, stating that he had yet to see any exchange made under the trade deal.

The free trade agreement between Maldives and China was signed in 2017, during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. The move was criticized by Nasheed and his party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) even then.

The Parliament had been scheduled to hear a motion over the free trade agreement on Monday. But the motion, submitted by MDP parliamentary group leader, Central Henveyru MP Ali Azim, was later withdrawn from the agenda.

Speaking at the parliamentary sitting on Monday morning, Nasheed said he had yet to see any transaction made between Maldives and China under the free trade agreement.

“Nothing required under the agreement has been done. So in reality, there is no reason to assume the agreement is being sustained. I find that it will be helpful if this honorable Parliament made a decision on this at some point,” said Nasheed.

Nasheed has made similar comments in the past. In December 2019, Nasheed said the free trade agreement no longer even existed, and that the current administration would not uphold the agreement.

His remarks were quickly refuted by Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, who said the Maldivian administration had no plans of dissolving the free trade agreement.

The free trade agreement had been signed on December 7, 2017, during a state visit by then-President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom to China.

The free trade agreement was promoted by the former administration as an opportunity for positive changes and increased development to the Maldivian economy. They said it would allow Maldives to export fish products to the Chinese market without duty, and promote new markets and more opportunities for local traders.