US Wants Thai Decision On Joining Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement

[webfact]

TRANS-PACIFIC ACCORD

US wants Thai decision

PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The United States has urged the government to decide soon whether it wants Thailand to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, as Washington will be pressing ahead with negotiations with the nine other countries currently signed up to the pact.

After her meeting yesterday with Industry Minister Pongsvas Svasti, US Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenny said the government needed to reach a decision on whether it wants to participate in the TPP, as the US and other signatory countries would be engaging in further talks on tightening trade cooperation and enhancing economic growth under the partnership.

She said the US had provided more information about the TPP to the government so that it could decide soon about whether or not to join the project.

The TPP has become a major discussion topic on the international stage, since it has the potential to become the US's largest trading bloc.

As it stands, the pact will strongly promote trade, investment and development among member states in nine Asia-Pacific countries: Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States. Japan also announced its intention to join the TPP talks during last year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Meanwhile, Kenny said the US authorities were confident about the flood-prevention measures being developed in Thailand this year. The embassy will also closely cooperate with the government to promote more direct investment from the US to Thailand, she added.

Speaking after his meeting with the ambassador, Pongsvas said the government was still studying whether to join the TPP.

He said he had reassured the US that the country had made major strides in its flood-prevention measures, and that more than 60 per cent of the flood-affected industries had recovered from last year's inundation.

Each industrial estate has also made big progress in building barriers against any repetition of the flooding this year, he added.

The minister also said the government would continue to promote Thailand as the centre of Asean trading and investment under the upcoming Asean Economic Community, in order to increase confidence among foreign investors that they should invest more in the Kingdom.

US investors continue to regard Thailand as their production base, particularly in the automobile and electronics sectors, he said.

Western Digital, which the world's largest electronic-components manufacturer, will continue to use Thailand as its production base, despite its plant being flooded late last year, he added.

Moreover, the government will try to solve the labour-shortage problem by encouraging some industries to set up plants in border provinces, Pongsvas said. Among the targeted industries to be promoted in this way are the garment, food and furniture sectors.

According to Board of Investment data, the US is Thailand's third-largest foreign investor, with about Bt9 billion committed in the first quarter of the year.

-- The Nation 2012-04-13

[geriatrickid]

The USA can try to pressure all it wants, but it is telling that the USA has done everything possible to keep its largest trading partner, Canada, out of the pact. Look closely at the participants. All of the current participants are economies that can be "muscled" by the USA. Canada, the largest energy supplier and the most important US export market is more likely to align itself with Australia and Chile creating a barrier to pushing through policies that favour the US economy to the detriment of others.

I have no animosity to the USA, but it is rather obvious that this trade deal is intended to benefit the USA. Thailand should act cautiously and not be pressured into a trade pact that could seriously disrupt its key exporters.

Edited April 13, 2012 by geriatrickid

[Lifer]

Ignorance already present.

[zydeco]

I'm no supporter of US foreign policy or its self interested trade deals. But if you want to see an example of someone "muscling", look at China. And that is what this deal is about, China. The US-Vietnam axis will only get stronger and tighter over time, as it would have done naturally after World War II had not the US stupidly supported and then supplanted the French. The decision, here, for Thailand is whose side do you want to be on, the US' or China's. As bad, blundering, selfish, and devestating as the US can be, that's really no-brainer. Life under American exploitation is far better than life under Chinese domination.

[geriatrickid]

There is also the path of alternatives. Have a look at Canada's recent quick turn on foreign policy. when the US gave it grief over its oil sands, it said, ok, hello Chinese markets, let's get going on Gateway and export the oil to Asia. The US was not expecting that. Canada is now moving quickly to boosting its presence in South and central America, again to create alternative import and export markets because of the one sided heavy handedness of the USA on trade. One doesn't have to be dominated by anyone if one has the balls to be independent. That was the Canadian mistake. Thailand should not make the same mistake with the USA, or China for that matter.

[mowgus]

There is also the path of alternatives. Have a look at Canada's recent quick turn on foreign policy. when the US gave it grief over its oil sands, it said, ok, hello Chinese markets, let's get going on Gateway and export the oil to Asia. The US was not expecting that. Canada is now moving quickly to boosting its presence in South and central America, again to create alternative import and export markets because of the one sided heavy handedness of the USA on trade. One doesn't have to be dominated by anyone if one has the balls to be independent. That was the Canadian mistake. Thailand should not make the same mistake with the USA, or China for that matter.

Exactly! If the US is already investing 9 million baht without any sort of hand-cuffs, why sign the deal. Canada only suffered from being tied to the US via NAFTA. If Thailand can put their focus on having stable political and government management, investment will come naturally. They already have lots of investment but are losing ground due to their mis-management. Clean it up.

[AZBill]

The USA can try to pressure all it wants, but it is telling that the USA has done everything possible to keep its largest trading partner, Canada, out of the pact. Look closely at the participants. All of the current participants are economies that can be "muscled" by the USA. Canada, the largest energy supplier and the most important US export market is more likely to align itself with Australia and Chile creating a barrier to pushing through policies that favour the US economy to the detriment of others.

I have no animosity to the USA, but it is rather obvious that this trade deal is intended to benefit the USA. Thailand should act cautiously and not be pressured into a trade pact that could seriously disrupt its key exporters.

Exactly why shouldn't the US act in its own self interest? No one else is going to - especially the poor redheaded stepchild to the north!

[jcw]

Quote from story above: According to Board of Investment data, the US is Thailand's third-largest foreign investor, with about Bt9 billion committed in the first quarter of the year.

Who is number one or two?

[retarius]

The USA can try to pressure all it wants, but it is telling that the USA has done everything possible to keep its largest trading partner, Canada, out of the pact. Look closely at the participants. All of the current participants are economies that can be "muscled" by the USA. Canada, the largest energy supplier and the most important US export market is more likely to align itself with Australia and Chile creating a barrier to pushing through policies that favour the US economy to the detriment of others.

I have no animosity to the USA, but it is rather obvious that this trade deal is intended to benefit the USA. Thailand should act cautiously and not be pressured into a trade pact that could seriously disrupt its key exporters.

All US trade deals are designed to benefit the US....they are not doing them out of the goodness of their hearts, only out of pure self interest, and as soon as they no longer benefit the US they'll renege on the deal...that's how it works.

I ran an advertising agency in a previous life...I was always eager to avoid deals whereby any particular client company would become more than about 20% of our business, because you lose your independence...Thailand should seek a few partners and not let the US dominate them otherwise they'll get raped.....partner with China, Japan, Aus, the ASEAN bloc and the US...no one dominates you and Thailand doesn't get raped.

[h90]

The USA can try to pressure all it wants, but it is telling that the USA has done everything possible to keep its largest trading partner, Canada, out of the pact. Look closely at the participants. All of the current participants are economies that can be "muscled" by the USA. Canada, the largest energy supplier and the most important US export market is more likely to align itself with Australia and Chile creating a barrier to pushing through policies that favour the US economy to the detriment of others.

I have no animosity to the USA, but it is rather obvious that this trade deal is intended to benefit the USA. Thailand should act cautiously and not be pressured into a trade pact that could seriously disrupt its key exporters.

And I doubt that it is good to make deals with country that starts wars after wars.

[Clayton777]

Free trade benefiting the USA ? Someone here is definitely clueless when it comes to the fact that these agreements do nothing but, ship in continuous containers of cheap crap from third world countries that Americans should and could be producing themselves to secure jobs and the future of the American people, this is nothing more than a sellout of American workers to make them lose at and on a slowly but shurely gradual pace of middle class to lower class and beyond, ending up a total loss of self empowerment to wash in the NWO movement of the Elite !

[kamahele]

Thailand joining TPP would be more beneficial to Thailand than to the USA. What percentage of the Thai population would be able to afford to buy what products are still made in the USA? However I would think that trade in the opposite direction would rise, increasing profits for Thai exporters and increasing revenue for the government so they can buy more tablets and i-phones for their politicians. As for Canada, the USA and Canada will work over the sticking points regarding eggs and dairy supply and I have no doubt that Canada will be a member nation of this treaty. As for the Canada - USA oil pipeline, that will be built too. Part of it has already been approved for construction however politicians and lobbyists on both sides of the border tried to force approval before the proper studies had been completed by using falsely optimistic economic data to pressure the Obama government into early approval. Didn't work.

[anterian]

" the government needed to reach a decision" oh good, set up another committee, make more jobs for the boys.

[inkorat]

TPP would definately benefit Thailand, but does not benefit some of the large families in the government with protected products and monopolies. They will drag their feet.

[khunken]

TPP would definately benefit Thailand, but does not benefit some of the large families in the government with protected products and monopolies. They will drag their feet.

Very doubtful that any trade group headed by the US will benefit Thailand - just look at APTA. What would benefit the vast majority of countries is a resolution to the current WTO impasse, blocked mainly by the US.

Separately, I agree with your comments about local monopolies & protection.

[IAMHERE]

There is also the path of alternatives. Have a look at Canada's recent quick turn on foreign policy. when the US gave it grief over its oil sands, it said, ok, hello Chinese markets, let's get going on Gateway and export the oil to Asia. The US was not expecting that. Canada is now moving quickly to boosting its presence in South and central America, again to create alternative import and export markets because of the one sided heavy handedness of the USA on trade. One doesn't have to be dominated by anyone if one has the balls to be independent. That was the Canadian mistake. Thailand should not make the same mistake with the USA, or China for that matter.

Sounds like Canada is same-same as USA. Canada is a large trading partner with USA same as Mexico because it is a bordering country with the USA. If it wasn't for the energy that Canada has Canada wouldn't have such a large surplus of trade with the USA.

[IsaanUSA]

Quote from story above: According to Board of Investment data, the US is Thailand's third-largest foreign investor, with about Bt9 billion committed in the first quarter of the year.

Who is number one or two?

China and Japan

[oggie911]

hail the over lords we say they not do

[FangFerang]

This headline in translation...

Headline: US wants Thai Decision

Translation: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...so we can get them working in sweatshops fast!