Free Trade Agreement ?

[LKIBA]

what happened to the free trade agreement with Thailand and Australia when the agreement was signed about 2-3years ago im not sure, correct me if im wrong, but why is it i can get on the other side of the world in the UK aussie wine for considerably less in some cases half the price. than in Thailand, tell me any benefits the general public have had from this agreement ???

Edited April 21, 2008 by LKIBA

[sabaijai]

When it comes to import duties, I've never seen much correlation between treaties and reality in Thailand. Perhaps on wholesale commodities, yes, but on consumer items like wine, no. Worth exploring though.

By the way it's not just Australian wine, it's all imported wine, all taxed equally as far as I can tell -- 400+%. There's even a new law in Thailand now that forbids vendors to discount wine or offer 2-for-1 sales, etc.

[LKIBA]

When it comes to import duties, I've never seen much correlation between treaties and reality in Thailand. Perhaps on wholesale commodities, yes, but on consumer items like wine, no. Worth exploring though.

By the way it's not just Australian wine, it's all imported wine, all taxed equally as far as I can tell -- 400+%. There's even a new law in Thailand now that forbids vendors to discount wine or offer 2-for-1 sales, etc.

mm so does that mean a free trade agreement does not count on certain items, they can be taxed ??? ive looked on the thai customs website but theres no info on free trade agreements and duties etc

[samran]

The FTA only covered a range of agreed goods and services. Wine, from memory, wasn't included in the schedual of items on the FTA. Other things, like diary, were.

As far as I remember, duties for wine are somehow based partly on volume rather than the FOB of the wine + duty. As such 2 litrecask wine of two dollar plonk in OZ can set you back more than 1000 baht, while a nice low to mid range bottle of wine ($10 at home) will be say 500 baht here.

[samran]

When it comes to import duties, I've never seen much correlation between treaties and reality in Thailand. Perhaps on wholesale commodities, yes, but on consumer items like wine, no. Worth exploring though.

By the way it's not just Australian wine, it's all imported wine, all taxed equally as far as I can tell -- 400+%. There's even a new law in Thailand now that forbids vendors to discount wine or offer 2-for-1 sales, etc.

mm so does that mean a free trade agreement does not count on certain items, they can be taxed ??? ive looked on the thai customs website but theres no info on free trade agreements and duties etc

full text of the FTA can be located at www.dfat.gov.au

[Guest Reimar]

When it comes to import duties, I've never seen much correlation between treaties and reality in Thailand. Perhaps on wholesale commodities, yes, but on consumer items like wine, no. Worth exploring though.

By the way it's not just Australian wine, it's all imported wine, all taxed equally as far as I can tell -- 400+%. There's even a new law in Thailand now that forbids vendors to discount wine or offer 2-for-1 sales, etc.

mm so does that mean a free trade agreement does not count on certain items, they can be taxed ??? ive looked on the thai customs website but theres no info on free trade agreements and duties etc

May a free trade agreement is limited to and not unlimited for every products. That should be checked before.

Cheers.

[johna]

That free trade agreement with Australia was signed when Taksin was prime minister and did not Shin corp get to sell satellite broadband in Australia at the same time, just a coincidence right.

I think it was Thai dairy farmers who felt threatened most back then

[steveromagnino]

That free trade agreement with Australia was signed when Taksin was prime minister and did not Shin corp get to sell satellite broadband in Australia at the same time, just a coincidence right.

I think it was Thai dairy farmers who felt threatened most back then

yep, and sugar cane growers as well.

But it was all ok because Shin got access to the Australian satelllite market.