- Negotiations
The Japanese and Thai governments started exploring a possible bilateral FTA in 2001-2002, but official negotiations didn’t start until February 2004. They concluded their talks in April 2007 and the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) came into force on 1 November 2007.
The FTA is comprehensive, covering trade in goods and services, investment, intellectual property rights, agriculture, competition policy, etc.
It was strongly opposed by social movements both in Thailand and Japan. Thai groups mobilised against the FTA’s provisions on patenting life forms, toxic wastes and investment. One special concern was that the Japanese would take advantage of the deal not to ship Thai healthworkers to Japan (as under Japan’s FTAs with the Philippines and Indonesia) but to operate an exclusive health facility in Thailand, for Japanese people, who would be flown in to avail of the best medical personnel Thailand has to offer — who would then be unavailable to treat poorer Thai citizens. A major row also erupted around the legalities of Thailand’s interim military regime pushing through the ratification and entry into force of the deal during their hold on the country after the September 2006 coup. Japanese groups mobilised particularly on the potential of the deal to increase Japan’s exports of toxic waste to Thailand.
last update: May 2012
Photo: Paul the Seeker / CC BY 2.0
13-Feb-2007
Bangkok Post
Sixteen Japanese non-government organisations have joined the protest by Thai activists against the Thailand-Japan free trade agreement (FTA) by urging their government to remove tariff reductions for hazardous waste from the pact.
12-Feb-2007
Bangkok Post
Activists have called on Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly to remove trade in waste and micro-organism patenting from the Japan-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
1-Feb-2007
MCOT
Critics of the proposed Japan Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement have warned the Thai government not to rush the draft free trade agreement through the National Legislative Assembly.
24-Jan-2007
MCOT
The Cabinet gave a greenlight to the proposed Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) Tuesday, paving the way for the bill to be sent to the National Legislative Assembly for further scrutiny.
10-Jan-2007
Bangkok Post
Greenpeace activists appealed to Tokyo yesterday to terminate a clause in the Thai-Japanese free trade agreement (FTA) which makes it easier for Japan to export toxic waste to Thailand. Under the FTA, tariffs on waste will be eliminated to help Japan’s waste exporters, the environmental group said.
22-Dec-2006
Bangkok Post
Despite criticism over its possible negative impacts, the Thai government plans to proceed with the Thai-Japanese Free Trade Area agreement, saying the pact would likely be signed before this interim government’s term expires.
18-Dec-2006
Bangkok Post
The Thai Foreign Ministry’s plan for cabinet acknowledgement today of the proposed free trade deal with Japan has raised questions from critics, including the National Economic and Social Council, which called for adequate information and time for the people and the country’s legislative body to study its impact.
12-Dec-2006
Nation
This week, the Thai Foreign Ministry is expected to ask the Cabinet to consider whether to approve the draft Thai-Japanese free trade agreement (FTA). Inevitably, questions will crop up regarding the legitimacy of an interim government and a non-elected people’s assembly to pass an international trade agreement.
2-Dec-2006
Antara
Environmental protection group Greenpeace on Friday warned Thailand that its pending free trade agreement with Japan could pave the way for the dumping of toxic waste and hazardous chemical into the kingdom.
16-Nov-2006
Bangkok Post
The interim Thai government is looking to the 120th anniversary of Thai-Japanese diplomatic relations next year as a possible time to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan, Deputy Foreign Minister Sawanit Kongsiri said yesterday.
