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Thailand

FTAs became a big social and political issue in Thailand ever since former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra agreed, in 2003, to negotiate a comprehensive bilateral deal with the United States. A broad multisectoral coalition in Thailand, called FTA Watch, monitors and mobilises around Thailand’s FTA policies quite frequently, given the deep-cutting and far-reaching nature of these deals for Thai society.

Apart from the Thai-US talks, Thailand has signed a limited FTA with Laos (1991) and another with China (agriculture only, 2003), framework agreements with Bahrain (as stepping stone toward an FTA with the GCC, 2002), Peru (2003) and India (2003), and fairly comprehensive FTAs with Australia (2003), New Zealand (2005) and Japan (2007).

Since 2006 and the current political crisis, Thailand’s pace of FTA negotiations has slowed down. (The government is technically still in negotiation with the US, EFTA, India, Peru and Papua New Guinea, while there has been talk of further deals with Chile, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Mexico, Pakistan, South Africa and Canada.) Meanwhile, civil society groups have insisted that the new Thai constitution include a provision, in Section 190, that requires Parliamentary ratification and much more public information about all FTAs that the Thai cabinet considers going into.

Regionally, Thailand is member of ASEAN and therefore part of that bloc’s FTA dealings with China, Korea, India, Australia/New Zealand and the EU. It is also part of BIMSTEC and, under Thaksin at least, was the protagonist pushing for greater trade and investment integration in the Mekong region under ACMECS, a framework for cooperation between Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

last update: May 2012
Photo: FTA Watch


Thailand, Sri Lanka fast-track FTA strategy to diversify exports and draw investors
The move followed discussions between Suchat Chomklin, Deputy Minister of Commerce, and representatives from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in Colombo.
Free trade talks eyed with Gulf nations
Thailand is revving up free trade agreement negotiations with Gulf countries to enhance trade, tourism and investment.
Bhutan free trade deal all set
Representatives from Thailand and Bhutan during talks held during the fourth round of negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA). The FTA is set to be signed during the Bimstec Leaders’ Summit, which Thailand will host on April 2-4.
Thailand seeks swift finalisation of FTA
Thailand Ambassador Rongvudhi Virabutr urged the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry to foster and push the government to finalise the FTA as soon as possible.
Thailand seeks swift finalisation of FTA
Karachi businesses are urging a quick FTA with Thailand to boost trade, currently at $1.1B. While acknowledging the trade imbalance, both sides see potential for growth, especially in services and investment. Concerns about local industry protection and export diversification were raised, along with calls for streamlined business practices and the new Thai e-visa.
Malaysia, RoK resume FTA talks
South Korea and Malaysia are resuming free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations after a five-year pause. The upcoming round of talks will focus on 11 sectors, including goods, services, and investment, as both countries aim to expand trade and strengthen cooperation amidst growing global protectionism.
Thailand signed FTA with EFTA: no worries about TRIPs Plus, except Border Measure & IP Enforcement
While the Thailand - EFTA agreemnts avoids TRIPS-plus measures that would directly impact medicine access and the universal healthcare system, Thai CSOs group remain concerns regarding border measures and intellectual property enforcement.
Bahrain FTA in the works
Thailand and Bahrain are discussing a free trade agreement (FTA) to boost trade and investment. The FTA talks, along with Thailand’s potential role as a food security hub for the Middle East, were discussed between the countries’ commerce ministers. Bahrain is Thailand’s 9th largest trading partner in the Middle East, with key Thai exports including automobiles, gems, and machinery.
Thailand and Saudi Arabia deepen trade ties, explore free trade pact
Thailand and Saudi Arabia have made significant strides in strengthening their bilateral trade relations, with both countries exploring opportunities to further enhance economic cooperation.
Thailand to sign historic first European trade pact at WEF
The Thailand-EFTA Free Trade Agreement, scheduled for January 23, 2025, will connect Thai businesses with four wealthy European markets – Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

    Links


  • FTA Watch (Thailand)
    A broad social coalition monitoring, analysing and mobilising around the Thai government’s FTA strategies.
  • Thai FTA
    A Thai government website, produced by the Department of Trade Negotiations, on Thailand’s different FTA negotiations.