Thailand, EU look to resume free trade talks by March

Zawya - 26 January 2023

Thailand, EU look to resume free trade talks by March
By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng

Thailand and the European Union have agreed to restart negotiations over a free trade agreement, officials said on Thursday, nearly a decade after talks were stalled by a military coup in the Southeast Asian country.

Thai Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said after a meeting in Brussels with the EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis that the two countries aim to re-launch talks within the first quarter of this year.

Dombrovskis said on Twitter: "Both sides want a comprehensive, high-quality agreement, with ambitious sustainability provisions".

The European Union suspended trade negotiations with Thailand in 2014 after a military coup ousted the civilian government, saying it would keep the bilateral relations under review.

Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy held general elections in 2019, after which the bloc broadened engagement again.

Thailand exports $22.8 billion worth of goods to the European Union, including auto parts, electrical equipment and agriculture products, government data shows, making the bloc its fourth-largest trading partner.

source : Zawya

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