Representatives of the European business community in Thailand yesterday said the country’s service sector was in a dangerous situation due to strict local regulations that obstruct foreign investment, especially from Europe.
A misleading web page promoting the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade negotiations indicates that Thailand is participating, when in fact Bangkok is staying away from the TPP at this point.
The sensitive issues for Thailand are: the impact of the EU’s plan to end Thailand’s eligibility for the Generalised System of Preferences next year; intellectual-property rights; tariff reductions on alcoholic beverages and cigarettes; and dispute-settlement mechanisms between government and private enterprises.
The Delegation of the European Union to Thailand is pushing hard to have the negotiations on a Thai-EU free-trade agreement concluded within 18 months, through a commitment to "take into account concerned interests" for a "win-win" deal.
The European Commission will begin a week-long free trade agreement (FTA) negotiation with Thailand in Brussels in late May, the first round of official talks, with the hope of reaching an agreement in 18 months.
Thailand has agreed to set up 14 subcommittees to consider various issues in talks for the Thailand-European Union Free-Trade Agreement in order to ensure the greatest benefits for the Kingdom.
Germany and the entire European Union are ready to provide maximum cooperation for conclusion of the Thai-EU free-trade agreement in two years’ time, for a win-win scenario for both parties, German Ambassador to Thailand Rolf Schulze said.
British enterprises, particularly from the agriculture and agri-technology sectors, are expected to take advantage of the upcoming free-trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union and Thailand.
If concluded successfully, an FTA would kick in just as Thailand’s cushy preferential trade treatment under the EU’s generalised system of preferences expires in 2015.
L’Union européenne et la Thaïlande ont déclaré jeudi l’engagement des négociations d’un accord de libre-échange dans l’effort réciproque de porter leur commerce bilatéral à 30 milliards d’euros.
Health Action International Europe, Oxfam and Action against AIDS Germany have serious concerns over the repercussions the EU-Thailand FTA will have on access to medicines in Thailand and the region.
La fundación AIDS Access afirmó hoy que el tratado de libre comercio (TLC) entre Tailandia y la Unión Europea (UE) pondrá en peligro el acceso de los enfermos de sida a los medicamentos genéricos en el país asiático.
Should we trade poor people’s lives with trade benefits for agro-industry corporations? This question has been posed by civic groups to the Yingluck Shinawatra government concerning the FTA negotiations between Thailand and the EU. It is not the only question that needs to be answered, however.
Thailand and the Philippines are among countries that have recently expressed an interest in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) bandwagon with the other 11 stakeholders. US Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Jose Fernandez said the matter had been the subject of further discussion on his recent visit to both countries.
Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) urged to explore the opportunities of signing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and Thailand in view of existing tremendous trading potential. Exchanging views with the Consul General of Thailand Wichai Sirisujin President KCCI Haroon Agar proposed Thai Consulate’s and KCCI’s Halal Food Pavilion in the 10th My-Karachi Exhibition 2013.
The Thai parliament has given a green light to the government to continue talks on the Thai-EU Free Trade Agreement aimed at increasing Thailand’s competitiveness in trade and investment in the EU market.
Now that parliament has approved the draft framework of the Thai-EU FTA, all eyes are now on the Commerce ministry as to how it will protect the national interest amid concerns raised by public health authorities and civic groups that big business interests will prevail over the common good.