Thailand Weighs Benefits of Joining Trade Pact Trump Ditched

By Jason Koutsoukis and Natnicha Chuwiruch

 

++ Current 11-nation trade agreement set to be signed next month

++ Donald Trump says U.S. re-entering trade deal a ‘possibility’

 

Thailand is considering applying to join the 11-nation trade deal that was to originally include the U.S., but was abandoned by President Donald Trump on his first day in office.

 

Negotiations over the deal were concluded in January by the countries -- Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia, Mexico, Canada, Peru, Chile, Japan and New Zealand -- who together account for about 13 percent of global gross domestic product. The members are expected to sign the text of the agreement next month in Chile.

 

“It’s one of the hot issues being debated within government right now,” Somchai Swangkarn, the military government’s whip in Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly, said in an interview on Friday. “The government wants to sign, but there are a few that oppose.”

 

Full story: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-27/thailand-weighs-benefits-of-joining-trade-pact-trump-ditched

 

-- Bloomberg 2018-02-28

Most all this 'trade' is gonna ship thru the South China Sea; who is going to be backing up their right to free passage?  Once more America will pay and gain nothing.

The balance of trade between the US and Thailand for 2017 was thus:

Exports US to Thailand - 10,837 million US dollars

Exports Thailand to US - 31,190 million US dollars

Seems there needs to be an adjustment somewhere if any balance is to be attained. 

There could be an opportunity for the Thais to balance it up a bit if they chose not to impose the huge rip-off customs duties and taxes on import goods from the US. Example, sales of California wines might benefit. But greed is always uppermost with the Thai government. Everyone else can get stuffed; they are No.1.

 

Yeah, ask Australia how its Thai-Oz free trade pact worked out after the unilateral Thai shutdown of the Chatree gold mine.

Edited February 28, 20188 yr by Kaoboi Bebobp

4 hours ago, IAMHERE said:

Most all this 'trade' is gonna ship thru the South China Sea; who is going to be backing up their right to free passage?  Once more America will pay and gain nothing.

American presence in the area has nothing whatsoever to do with these trade alliances... nothing... they will be there regardless, so there is zero additional cost

 

however, if America joined the other nations in this deal, they might benifit.... but trump said no

 

it’s yalls choice to not participate, and thereby “gain nothing”.... apparently the deal maker in chief thinks that’s a great deal for America, even if you don’t. 

 

 

Edited February 28, 20188 yr by farcanell