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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


Germany, EU keen to clinch Thai FTA within two years: ambassador
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.
Thai-Chilean FTA wins parliamentary endorsement
Thailand’s Parliament yesterday endorsed the Thai-Chilean free trade agreement, which will take effect in the fourth quarter
FTA signing with EU ’should be priority’
The Thai-EU Business Council warned yesterday that Thailand would see its gross domestic product stunted by 1.2 per cent if it does not sign a free-trade agreement (FTA) by 2015 when the European Union’s tax breaks expire.
Thailand’s move to join the FTA race: A good thing?
Thailand has recently stepped up its efforts on opening its market by joining various Free Trade Agreement negotiations such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. What would these FTAs mean for Thailand?
Thailand to sign FTA with Pakistan
Thailand has expressed its intention to sign a Free Trade Agreement with Pakistan to further promote trade and economic relations between the two countries.
India-Thailand FTA deal may be delayed
There will be no signing or conclusion of the FTA by January end, and if it happens it could only happen by mid or late 2013.
Thailand, Pakistan to move forward in signing PTA, FTA
Thailand and Pakistan move forward to sign accords for Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) leading to Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
TPP vs. RCEP: A new Washington-Beijing tug-of-war?
How the Thai government navigates the contest between the United States and China in the economic sphere will be a litmus test of Thailand’s diplomatic and political skills.
S. Korea, Thailand discuss free trade deal
South Korea and Thailand have entered discussions on a possible free trade agreement to "strengthen economic links between the two countries," officials said.
FTA Fund to aid development of fish products
Free Trade Agreement Fund officials are pursuing a plan to develop Thai fish products in local communities, as concern grows that the domestic market is facing an influx of cheaper fisheries produce from neighbouring countries under the Asean seamless market. The plan will focus on developing the procurement and processing of gourami, a freshwater fish currently farmed mainly in Chachoengsao province.

    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.