US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) threatens public health, Thai advocate says

[webfact]

TPP threatens public health, advocate says
Teerin Julsawad
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Health advocates yesterday expressed concerns over the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a proposed free-trade agreement that seeks to deepen economic ties and liberalise trade among a group of Asia-Pacific nations.

"It is very worrisome and a matter of life and death for the country," said Hatai Chitanondh, president of the Thailand Health Promotion Institute of the National Foundation. "The agreement is so secretive. I want to bring awareness of this deal to the public, as I believe it will threaten our economy as well as the health of citizens."

Hatai said the deal is of concern to health advocates because by opening up the tobacco sector it could lead to increased levels of smoking.

On a purely economic level, meanwhile, it poses a potential threat to Thai tobacco farmers, Hatai said.

The Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM) would not be able to compete against international tobacco firms because the reduction of tariffs would boost competition between foreign and domestic industries, Hatai said.

Chitanondh warned the TPP would not only heavily affect the TTM and Thai tobacco farmers, but also prevent free implementation of regulations. "All our legislative measures and regulations will be put aside. Anyone can come in to Thailand and do what they want… We'd have to abide by their rules."

The TPP is under negotiation by the US, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Japan will take part in the next round of free-trade talks to be held later this month in Kuala Lumpur. Due to the secrecy of the agreement, the TPP has drawn much criticism from the public.

In April, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney said the US government has provided data to the Thai government about the TPP so that it could make a decision soon. Thailand, however, has not hinted at a decision, and it remains unclear if it will discuss the matter.

-- The Nation 2013-07-04

[MaxLee]

If there's a problem, blame the farang-type knee jerk reaction again...

[ABCer]

Is this only about TTM or can be applicable to Farang?

Can you imagine the damage to Thais Health if "All our legislative measures and regulations will be put aside. Anyone can come in to Thailand and do what they want… We'd have to abide by their rules." ???

[MaxLee]

Is this only about TTM or can be applicable to Farang?

Can you imagine the damage to Thais Health if "All our legislative measures and regulations will be put aside. Anyone can come in to Thailand and do what they want We'd have to abide by their rules." ???

FYI the Russians have already started their Mafia business in Thailand... the emerging hub of nasty Russian gangsters

[Thai at Heart]

Public health official worrying about ttm?

Bizarre...

[Ricardo]

Was there not a thread recently, where the TTM thought it might try to boost sales overseas, or promote its own brands to other countries ?

What happened to their confidence, in their own abilities to compete ?

Or was that only a good idea while the playing-field was uneven, tilted in their direction ?

[Thait Spot]

If Thai tobacco can't compete with US tobacco despite the differences in labour costs and the need to ship it here then it's already a doomed industry

[robblok]

Thais are really bad n surviving in an open market, they always want to reap benefits but don't like to open up their own market. There is a reason why any foreigner that wants to open a company has to employ 4 Thais. Foreigners are just better organised and educated and used to competing. Thais are not, if a business cant compete they cry foul.

Then again trade deals must be fair in the end the ones winning are usually the consumers.

[noitom]

The heat is on Thailand. They're scurrying about. Blaming this one, blaming that one. Sidestepping any real positive action. These Thais, they are something else. So wrapped up in self importance and self interest and fail to see reality time and again.

[Mampara]

Thais are really bad n surviving in an open market, they always want to reap benefits but don't like to open up their own market. There is a reason why any foreigner that wants to open a company has to employ 4 Thais. Foreigners are just better organised and educated and used to competing. Thais are not, if a business cant compete they cry foul.

Then again trade deals must be fair in the end the ones winning are usually the consumers.

They say that the pen is mightier than the sword, but not if a fool is holding one.

[lemoncake]

The Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM) would not be able to compete against international tobacco firms because the reduction of tariffs would boost competition between foreign and domestic industries

Just imagine the outrage of monopoly not being a monopoly any longer and customers might actually have a choice, its simply outrages

[Neilly]

In April, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney said the US government has provided data to the Thai government about the TPP so that it could make a decision soon. Thailand, however, has not hinted at a decision, and it remains unclear if it will discuss the matter.

Take note

[MrSlatersParrot]

Quote:

"Hatai said the deal is of concern to health advocates because by opening up the tobacco sector it could lead to increased levels of smoking.

On a purely economic level, meanwhile, it poses a potential threat to Thai tobacco farmers, Hatai said."

What tosh!

So they're concerned that Thai tobacco farmers will lose out when Thais turn to western brands and smoke more?

The idea of a level playing field really isn't on.

Then there is ASEAN coming...

[animatic]

What a load of bilge!

The Health guy worrying about the Thai Tobacco industry not being competitive,

but foriegn tobaco is a health hazard.

Well of course THAI tobacco can't be as bad for you as farang tobacco.

Eveery thai MUST know that.

Bilge,bilge and stanking bilge.

[Thai at Heart]

What a load of bilge!

The Health guy worrying about the Thai Tobacco industry not being competitive,

but foriegn tobaco is a health hazard.

Well of course THAI tobacco can't be as bad for you as farang tobacco.

Eveery thai MUST know that.

Bilge,bilge and stanking bilge.

They don't dare to go head to head on price with foreign brands.

[gosompoi]

Thai culture is Thai-ness and the outside world can not compete or understand Thai-ness. If the rest of the world can not understand it than it is .......?

[Markaew]

This could be losing face for Thailand being unable to cope with trading abroad. So much for their global awareness and international perception.

Basically, they can't do business without corruption and manipulation of regulations to their advantage.

[Thai at Heart]

If Thai tobacco can't compete with US tobacco despite the differences in labour costs and the need to ship it here then it's already a doomed industry

Most of the cigarettes in ASEAN have a large percentage of ASEAN tobacco inside to avail of reduced duties.

[TomTao]

"All our legislative measures and regulations will be put aside. Anyone can come in to Thailand and do what they want… We'd have to abide by their rules."

Hello, has he heard about the AEC/ASEAN?

[chainarong]

This is a load of coblers, a health official supporting the tobacco industry, how caring can one get.

[Thai at Heart]

This is a load of coblers, a health official supporting the tobacco industry, how caring can one get.

Ttm is a huge cash cow for the government.

[GentlemanJim]

Fingers crossed both TTM and the other tobacco giants can battle hard and all self destruct....... Now where was I aah yes back to reality.

[CIHUAHUA]

To compete and win you have to be faster, cheaper and better than the other guy. Thailand has the upper hand with low labor costs. What is the problem?

[PoodMaiDai]

Thais are really bad n surviving in an open market, they always want to reap benefits but don't like to open up their own market. There is a reason why any foreigner that wants to open a company has to employ 4 Thais. Foreigners are just better organised and educated and used to competing. Thais are not, if a business cant compete they cry foul.

Thai business, Thai people, Thai whatever... if they can't compete, they cry foul. They even do it to each other. It must be a face saving mechanism.

[rbrooks]

Quote:

"Hatai said the deal is of concern to health advocates because by opening up the tobacco sector it could lead to increased levels of smoking.

On a purely economic level, meanwhile, it poses a potential threat to Thai tobacco farmers, Hatai said."

What tosh!

So they're concerned that Thai tobacco farmers will lose out when Thais turn to western brands and smoke more?

The idea of a level playing field really isn't on.

Then there is ASEAN coming...

They would rather have Thais dying from tobacco grown and sold by Thais then the Farang obviously health is not the issue but plain ole greed is.

[surangw]

thai view of economic competition, "don't loose face by non thai business doing better"

[lemoncake]

thai view of economic competition, "don't loose face by non thai business doing better"

Many Thai believe Toyota, Honda and Yamaha are Thai and it is not possible to convince them otherwise.

Of course many Thai owned company's are doing really well, since they have the monopoly and no competition as anything imported costs crazy amounts.

PS. was not contradicting your post, just adding little more

[gosompoi]

"All our legislative measures and regulations will be put aside. Anyone can come in to Thailand and do what they want… We'd have to abide by their rules."

Hello, has he heard about the AEC/ASEAN?

and WTO

[gosompoi]

thai view of economic competition, "don't loose face by non thai business doing better"

Many Thai believe Toyota, Honda and Yamaha are Thai and it is not possible to convince them otherwise.

Of course many Thai owned company's are doing really well, since they have the monopoly and no competition as anything imported costs crazy amounts.

PS. was not contradicting your post, just adding little more

I didn't believe this so I ask three Thai's next to me and sure enough they said oh they were founded by Thai. <deleted>!

[dlgarno]

The actual cost of making a pack of cigarettes in the United States is 18 cents. The Thai tobacco monopoly cannot make them any cheaper.