Thai-Japan FTA: Govt warned again not to rush into any trade deals
Bangkok Post 19-Dec-06
THAI-JAPAN FTA
Govt warned again not to rush into any trade deals
ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL
The 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.
NESAC vice-chairman, Vorapol Socatiyanurak, said the NESAC stood by its advice to the previous government in March and the current administration in October that all free trade negotiations and deals should be put on hold to give way for the public to participate.
Mr Vorapol suggested it was the right time for the government of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont to redesign the rules or at least provide adequate information for stakeholders to study and give them enough time to forward their views.
The government’s plan to send the draft of the Thai-Japanese free trade deal to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) for endorsement by January seemed unrealistic and not beneficial to the necessary process, he added.
The Thai-Japanese FTA had dubious content and more comparative studies, such as the impact of the Japanese-Philippines free trade deal, should be conducted, Mr Vorapol said.
NESAC and other agencies involved should be assured and informed if Thailand was equipped with sufficient legal tools and measures to prevent adverse impacts from the deal such as from industrial and electronic waste, he added.
As Mr Vorapol commented, the Foreign Ministry issued a statement yesterday quoting deputy permanent secretary and Thai chief negotiator on the FTA with Japan, Pisan Manawapat, as saying the ministry would submit the draft agreement for cabinet acknowledgement today.
The ministry has recommended that the government forward the draft agreement to the NLA for debate on whether the whole text should be signed or be revised.
The public hearing on Friday, the statement said, would also provide other input for the government in order to consider whether to sign the deal with the Japanese government.
Foreign Ministry sources said the government was consulting with the NLA chairman about the controversial deal, including whether NLA members should vote in one session or set up a sub-panel to consider it further.
The FTA Watch yesterday blasted the ministry for insincerity and lack of transparency, saying the group was only allowed to see the text last Thursday after calling for all of the draft text to be revealed before the scheduled debate on Friday.
But the ministry only said the group could send representatives to look at the 900-page text but not make copies.
This public hearing contravened the PM Office order of 2005 which stipulated that a public hearing must reveal substantive information 15 days in advance.
Meanwhile Public Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla insisted that his ministry would stick to its standpoint of protecting rights to access cheap medicine in any trade talks.
Details regarding intellectual property rights and drug patents should not be included in any upcoming trade talks and any such move should be approved after referring to both the public and the NLA.
