Muddled trade policies hold back the country, researchers say

By WICHIT CHAITRONG 
THE NATION 

 

 

BANGKOK: -- RESEARCHERS have criticised the government for a lack of free-trade strategies and poorly organised trade institutions that are handicapping the country in international trade.

 “Due to a lack of effective trade strategies, we don’t know what are our priorities are and we want from free-trade negotiations,” said Suphat Suphachalasai, head of a research team that released a study titled “The development of institutional mechanism to support Thailand’s obligations according to international trade and investment agreements”.

 

The study was funded by the International Institute for Trade and Development.

 

The Thai government’s efforts were in start contrast with those of Singapore and South Korea, which have clear strategies on free trade negotiations, Suphat said yesterday at the ITD Research Forum 2017.

 

Currently, trade negotiations fall under the responsibility of Commerce Ministry’s Department of Trade Negotiations, which does not have much authority. 

 

The study also found that different state agencies have different objectives and there is lack of leadership concerning which agency would have the final say.

 

The FTA utilisation rate is also low partly because inefficient of information dissemination

“FTAs (free trade agreements) information provided by the website of the Commerce Ministry is very complicated, and small businesses would not understand it, “ Suphat said. 

 

The governments of South Korea and Singapores make FTA information more simple for the general public to understand and they have FTAs call centres that provide question and answer services for those who want to utilise the free trade agreements, but Thailand has no such FTA call centre.

 

Sudharma Yoonaidharma, dean of School of Law at University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the Thai authorities do not pay much attention to international laws and conventions although Thailand have agreed to many international agreements.

 

Thai court also did not take into account the national laws it just look at only domestic laws when it handed down verdict on trade and investment disputes, he noted.

 

In contrast, Singapore have established international court and could recruit specialists from abroad to sit on the judge panel. Singapore aims to be hub of international arbitration.

 

 Chayodom Sabhasri, an economist at Chulalongkorn University, said FTA utilisation rates by Thai exporters are not high.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/Economy/30327254

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-09-21

Singapore aims to be hub of international arbitration.

 

How dare they claim to be a hub! Were the hub of hubs and when our subs get here and we learn how to operate them your in big trouble.

A very good job is done - the policy is clear. Every effort is made to allow the big entrepreneurs, who are at the centre of the nation's commercial activities, to trade freely, untrammeled by any competition, domestic or external.

That is what is meant by free trade isn't it?

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Muddled trade policies

With the military running the show what else can be expected. There are thousands of these generals whose skills are mainly limited to barking orders, saluting and adorning themselves with undeserved medals. 

Just about everything in Thailand has become muddled. Even down to organising a tax on booze and migrant worker laws. 

The military seem to consistently follow Murphy's 50-50-90 rule.

Anytime they have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability they'll get it wrong.

Seems Thailand is forever protecting and bolstering monopolies. These practices benefit the few rich families, but certainly negatively impacts others. How can the average Thai afford to pay 2x-5x higher prices for items b/c of these policies? Hell the price of a drill motor is 2-3 times the amount it costs in U.S. and ironically it's made in China. 

Thailand is no longer competitive in the real world.  It is held to ransom by influential families who create cartels and fix prices.  One day someone is going to do a price comparison with products here and elsewhere.

muddled policies stem from muddled authorities appointed by a befuddled government that hates meddling researchers

Changes are going to have to be made, whether the powers-that-be like it or not. 

 

In the past few months I have started a new hobby and after struggling to find things related to this in Thailand, I created an e-bay account. Obviously this gives me more choice but more surprising was that I could buy the EXACT same product from overseas at up to 80% discount. These are not high value items, don't get stopped by customs and normally with free shipping. Quite an incentive to spend my money overseas.

 

More and more locals will catch on to this sort of thing over time.

 

I believe there is a big bubble and false 'value' in the Thai economy created by these monopolies & protectionism. I hope they choose to deflate it sensibly over time and not let it burst.

 

 

18 minutes ago, realfunster said:

Changes are going to have to be made, whether the powers-that-be like it or not. 

 

In the past few months I have started a new hobby and after struggling to find things related to this in Thailand, I created an e-bay account. Obviously this gives me more choice but more surprising was that I could buy the EXACT same product from overseas at up to 80% discount. These are not high value items, don't get stopped by customs and normally with free shipping. Quite an incentive to spend my money overseas.

 

More and more locals will catch on to this sort of thing over time.

 

I believe there is a big bubble and false 'value' in the Thai economy created by these monopolies & protectionism. I hope they choose to deflate it sensibly over time and not let it burst.

 

 

Oh how I agree with you.  Also replacement parts are practically non existent. I've noticed - might be wrong - Thailand seems to have/get/sell old models items. Ever look for a chuck less drill motor?

 

I looked everywhere in Khonkaen for a battery pack for my DeWalt cordless drill. None to be found. lol lol I was told "you must buy new" not a new battery (don't have) but a new drill. GEEZEus.

3 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

muddled policies stem from muddled authorities appointed by a befuddled government that hates meddling researchers

I thought this thread was about Thailand, but it sounds like you're describing the UK (as Brexit staggers toward implementation) and the US (as Trump staggers from pillar to post)

 

"Muddled" seems to be a popular term:

 

Trump's muddled view of American history
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/19/politics/trump-history-facts-historians/index.html

 

Trump’s Muddled China Strategy

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/trumps-muddled-china-strategy/

 

Is President Trump’s foreign policy strategic or simply muddled?

http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170611/is-president-trumps-foreign-policy-strategic-or-simply-muddled

 

Theresa May denies UK's Brexit plans are muddled

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2017/jan/08/theresa-may-denies-uks-brexit-plans-muddled-video

3 hours ago, selftaopath said:

Oh how I agree with you.  Also replacement parts are practically non existent. I've noticed - might be wrong - Thailand seems to have/get/sell old models items. Ever look for a chuck less drill motor?

 

I looked everywhere in Khonkaen for a battery pack for my DeWalt cordless drill. None to be found. lol lol I was told "you must buy new" not a new battery (don't have) but a new drill. GEEZEus.

If you need a chuck less drill motor you probably bought the wrong brand...why not only change the charcoal brushes? They cost 50 baht for a Makita, can buy them from the shelf.

 

De Walt is bad anyway, at least for a pro that is...for hobby it might work....in Chinatown they can replace the batteries of the batteriepack. That's what thai do. Or just order the battery online.

 

But also in Europe it's better and almost same price or even cheaper to buy a whole new set with 2 new batteries.

 

Maktec is cheap and not bad.

 

I agree that for everything they only have old models in Thailand. I just came home from being in 10 helmetshops to find a jethelmet size xxl. They only had one from the brand REAL (made in thailand) for 3000 baht. But in 2 the sunglasses were very loose and rattling, the other one was good but the inside was loose and couldn't be fixed....So i'll have to buy it abroad, in Italy a good helmet from Nolan or AGV costs around 4000 baht and that's sure good quality. Thailand is far too expensive for the quality they produce.

 

 

1 hour ago, Thian said:

If you need a chuck less drill motor you probably bought the wrong brand...why not only change the charcoal brushes? They cost 50 baht for a Makita, can buy them from the shelf.

 

De Walt is bad anyway, at least for a pro that is...for hobby it might work....in Chinatown they can replace the batteries of the batteriepack. That's what thai do. Or just order the battery online.

 

But also in Europe it's better and almost same price or even cheaper to buy a whole new set with 2 new batteries.

 

Maktec is cheap and not bad.

 

I agree that for everything they only have old models in Thailand. I just came home from being in 10 helmetshops to find a jethelmet size xxl. They only had one from the brand REAL (made in thailand) for 3000 baht. But in 2 the sunglasses were very loose and rattling, the other one was good but the inside was loose and couldn't be fixed....So i'll have to buy it abroad, in Italy a good helmet from Nolan or AGV costs around 4000 baht and that's sure good quality. Thailand is far too expensive for the quality they produce.

 

 

Thanks for your response Thain. I might not have been clear re: a chuck-less drill (motor). What I'm looking for is a drill that does not use a key to lock the chuck. The cordless ones here are chuck-less but an 1/2 electrical drill (motor) all use keys.  You might like this link re: quality items

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/tools/reviews/a3793/4292657

 

Are you referring to Chinatown in BKK? We live in the sticks aka Isaan.  There is an outfit in Burriram that sells the replacement battery but they charge a/b 2/3 of the cost of a new drill and batteries. lol TIT eh?

 

Cheers,

btw I do like some of the items found on Lazada, but they usually charge a bit more for everything. I like that they ship free and usually are very professional in delivering however. 

Keyless chuck

3 hours ago, selftaopath said:

Thanks for your response Thain. I might not have been clear re: a chuck-less drill (motor). What I'm looking for is a drill that does not use a key to lock the chuck. The cordless ones here are chuck-less but an 1/2 electrical drill (motor) all use keys.  You might like this link re: quality items

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/tools/reviews/a3793/4292657

 

Are you referring to Chinatown in BKK? We live in the sticks aka Isaan.  There is an outfit in Burriram that sells the replacement battery but they charge a/b 2/3 of the cost of a new drill and batteries. lol TIT eh?

 

Cheers,

btw I do like some of the items found on Lazada, but they usually charge a bit more for everything. I like that they ship free and usually are very professional in delivering however. 

Oh mate you better buy a whole new machine with 2 batteries. But be aware that not many keyless chucks kan go to 12 mm....mine can't and sometimes that frustrates me...i paid like 1500 baht for a Maktec 12V with 2 batteries and charger. In another shop (in Bang Sue) only 1 battery costed the same. Those are Ni-CD batteries, Li-ion costs more but lasts much longer.

 

Those brushes i've seen in many shops, even homepro iirc....very cheap and from makita...you can also make them fit with a file if you want to spend time on it.

 

Li-ion batteries can't stand very hot temps though, keep that in my mind...they also hate below zero...

 

Those batteryshops are in Chinatown and will totally replace the old ones in the batterypack...you can also do that yourself if you can solder well.

 

I have loads of keyless powerdrills and so but believe me Makita is the best and those are the cheapest in the USA. If you're old you might want an impact driver to screw, they are new since a decade and work much easyier...they can also drill but don't have a chuck...

 

Myself i have 8 makita 18V li-ion batteriepacks and about 15 machines which can use those packs...all kind of machines, supereasy but where you live they will all come to borrow it......555