Thai Commerce Ministry Accelerates Talks on Free Trade Agreements to Boost Exports

[webfact]

 

By Subhabhong Rarueysong

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - Thailand’s government has worked hard to accelerate talks on free trade agreements, particularly a deal with the EU to boost exports, which are the only engine to boost the country’s economic growth this year.

 

Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said the negotiation framework for the Thai-EU FTA is scheduled to go before the Cabinet by late September, while the ASEAN-Canada FTA is likely to be submitted to the Cabinet in August.

 

According to the Commerce Ministry, once the Thai-EU FTA becomes effective, Thailand expects to enjoy trade and investment expansion because the EU, with 27 member countries, is Thailand’s fifth largest trading partner after ASEAN, China, Japan and the US. In 2020, bilateral trade between Thailand and the EU totaled US$33.1 billion, representing 7.56% of Thailand’s global trade.

 

Mr. Jurin added that Thailand and its ASEAN counterparts are also accelerating discussions with Canada, to establish a scope of negotiations for an ASEAN-Canada FTA. Two-way trade between Thailand and Canada totaled $2.31 billion last year.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-07-19

 

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[ukrules]

These free trade agreements which I've been reading about for the last 10 years or so all seem to be very one sided.

 

Thai exports cheap, while all imports are subject to massive tax.

 

Are the other countries dumb or something?

[chilli42]

3 hours ago, ukrules said:

These free trade agreements which I've been reading about for the last 10 years or so all seem to be very one sided.

 

Thai exports cheap, while all imports are subject to massive tax.

 

Are the other countries dumb or something?

It does not say but if these are not bilateral agreements then nothing is going to happen.

[yankee99]

4 hours ago, ukrules said:

These free trade agreements which I've been reading about for the last 10 years or so all seem to be very one sided.

 

Thai exports cheap, while all imports are subject to massive tax.

 

Are the other countries dumb or something?

Are you importing under the FTA rules? Individuals buying goods from  places like ebay, Amazon and lazada dont qualify without exporting counties certificates and Thailand Import license and vat registration 

[ukrules]

4 hours ago, yankee99 said:

Are you importing under the FTA rules? Individuals buying goods from  places like ebay, Amazon and lazada dont qualify without exporting counties certificates and Thailand Import license and vat registration 

I'm not importing anything, I'm thinking about things like vehicle imports and wine from other ASEAN nations, Australia in particular.

[Salerno]

6 minutes ago, ukrules said:

... wine from other ASEAN nations, Australia in particular.

With a splendid "free trade agreement" already in place and looking for new markets for wine exports due to Chinese flexing their muscle.

[johng]

16 minutes ago, ukrules said:

and wine from other ASEAN nations,

And beer from Laos

[trainman34014]

All they are ever interested in is getting their products in to other countries on the cheap whilst putting huge Tariffs on goods imported from anywhere.   Other countries should only sign up to any deal with level Tariffs on both sides.