Relief as US opts against sanctions

[Lite Beer]

Relief as US opts against sanctions
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI,
ERICH PARPART
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand yesterday welcomed US President Barack Obama's decision not to impose sanctions against the Kingdom over its failure to combat human trafficking, assuring it would continue to work hard to improve its performance in this area.

Washington downgraded Thailand's status in its "Trafficking in Persons" (TIP) report in June.

Later, the ruling junta allocated energy and personnel to improve the way it handled the issue, as well as to update the US government on latest developments.

The decision on sanctions has delighted the country, given that the May 22 coup in May cooled relations with the US. Thailand's TIP downgrade to the lowest level - Tier III - was partly a repercussion of the soured ties, as was the cessation of some military cooperation.

The prospect of sanctions had, however, been feared by the country's military leaders.

Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, director-general of the International Trade Promotion Department, said the decision would be good for Thai exports to the US. The government will continue to work closely with concerned agencies and private enterprises to solve the problem of human trafficking and increase protection for labourers, she said.

The Foreign Ministry praised Obama's decision, which it said reflected that Washington had considered Thailand's efforts to improve the human trafficking situation in recent months.

"The decision also reflects the fact that the US gives importance to its long relationship with Thailand," said deputy spokesman Russ Jalichandra. "Thailand has a clear will to solve the problem and will cooperate with all concerned parties in this matter."

Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikalya has instructed Thai trade officials overseas to draw up export strategies and stress that moves were being made to improve the country's bad reputation on human trafficking, Nuntawan added.

Poj Aramwattananon, president of the Thai Frozen Foods Association, said the US decision on sanctions was very good news for Thai businesses. As Thailand is still in Tier III, all involved agencies will continue to improve labour protection, he stressed, adding that he expected the current government would also stringently endorse and enforce many laws related to human-rights protection and show that Thailand was seriously concerned about labour issues.

Poj expects the Kingdom's TIP status to be upgraded next year.

Supant Mongkolsuthree, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said orders for Thai products from the US could now be expected to run more smoothly than in recent months.

"The order level from the US should get back to normal and it should continue to improve from now on, as President Obama's announcement has proved to be more positive for the country's image," he said.

Supant said the public sector had been spearheading a campaign ever since the downgrade in June, and that the private sector - including the FTI - had played a supporting role by contacting foreign embassies and foreign chambers and arranging seminars to reassure foreign buyers that the country was doing everything it could to combat human trafficking.

Vallop Vitanakorn, vice chairman of the FTI, said the US president's decision was not unexpected, because a downgrade did not normally include a trade sanction.

He said that while the export of goods had not been affected by the downgrade in the past three months, the country's image had been affected.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Relief-as-US-opts-against-sanctions-30243709.html

-- The Nation 2014-09-20

[phuketandsee]

Bad news. Nothing will change now.

[casindonet]

Bet thailand will remain in tier 3 again next year....

[EricBerg]

Business as usual. No need for a crackdown on human trafficking. The fish will stay cheap. The girls as well.

[jaltsc]

"Later, the ruling junta allocated energy and personnel to improve the way it handled the issue, as well as to update the US government on latest developments."

"Improve the way it handled the issue..." Translation: Find better ways to cover up the lack of progress.

[noitom]

It's shameful that Mr. Obama and the US Congress has to approve no sanctions against Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Thailand in order to gain their support in the fight against global terror. It is even more shameful that Thais gloat over this as a victory for themselves and delude themselves that it is a condoning of their human trafficking behavior rather than spelling out what exactly they have done to bust Thai Mr. Big human traffickers.

[thailand49]

You got to give the kingdom some credit sometimes they really know how to pull the wool over people eyes?

[drand11]

Ues, nothing will change. The bad guys are protected for another 10 years.

[atyclb]

I was ecstatic and delighted and proud when obama first was elected. this was like the idea/concept of a country where everyone is equal under god reaching fruition. now so very disappointing words cannot describe from this "human rights" advocate president. if ever a nobel peace prize could be retracted ???

[ToddinChonburi]

Obama is nothing but a huge disappointment, He has done nothing for the working man or the poor.

when he first took office gasoline in my home state dropped to $ 1.53 a gallon by the end of the year it was $ 3.60 and my box of cereal doulble in price, property taxes went up and my income taxes went up. I finally decided it was time to leave.

[jaltsc]

I was ecstatic and delighted and proud when obama first was elected. this was like the idea/concept of a country where everyone is equal under god reaching fruition. now so very disappointing words cannot describe from this "human rights" advocate president. if ever a nobel peace prize could be retracted ???

Getting elected to the presidency of the U.S. is like the dog who chases the car and finally catches up to it. Then he ;;has no idea what to do with the prize. It's not Obama's fault about the mess he's in. He just isn't as good a liar as previous office holders and his staff is way under qualified in cover ups. Check his statistics on the economy, war casualties and other markers. He isn't that much better or worse than his predecessors. Just another ego maniac proving the Peter Principle.

[atsiii]

Sad news once again.

[simple1]

The reality is imposition of sanctions permitted under Tier 3, overall, would have little meaningful impact on Thailand other than possible increased cost of government borrowing in the international financial markets.

Penalties for Tier 3 Countries

Pursuant to the TVPA, governments of countries on Tier 3 may be subject to certain sanctions, whereby the U.S. government may withhold or withdraw nonhumanitarian, non-trade-related foreign assistance. In addition, countries on Tier 3 may not receive funding for government employees’ participation in educational and cultural exchange programs. Consistent with the TVPA, governments subject to sanctions would also face U.S. opposition to assistance (except for humanitarian, trade-related, and certain development-related assistance) from international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2011/164221.htm

Edited September 20, 2014 by simple1

[SinCityGr8One]

Obama is nothing but a huge disappointment, He has done nothing for the working man or the poor.

when he first took office gasoline in my home state dropped to $ 1.53 a gallon by the end of the year it was $ 3.60 and my box of cereal doulble in price, property taxes went up and my income taxes went up. I finally decided it was time to leave.

And You seriously blame President Obama for that personally! You must be kidding. As if he had anything to do with that? Sheeeesh, Gimme a break. The price of Crude is determined on a daily basis in London. 50 wealthy Families control the Global Oil Market. The Rothschilds (Royal Dutch-Shell), The Rockefellers (Exxon-Mobil), etc. Plus, the Chinese auto market is expanding every day along with it's industry, so expect the price of Petroleum to continue to rise. Cereal is also a commodity. Grains are traded on the Chicago Board of Trade Market every day by traders to investors. Property taxes are a local issue as in Municipal, County or State requirements. Income Taxes went up? That is the handi-work of your Congressional Representative. I do have to correct you regarding him NOT doing anything for the working man or poor. For every Job created under his terms in office 48 more people became eligible for Food Stamps. There are a total of 46,000,000 Americans benefiting from that. I do agree with you in his disappointment as a President. I also criticize him for going around Congressional Sessions and him acting like American Royalty and issuing Executive Orders like they are Decrees!

[SinCityGr8One]

Great News! The USA is the principle market for Thai Seafood products. Just in Shrimp alone, Thailand exports over 160,000 tons of Shrimp directly to the USA. Does anyone realize that in Las Vegas alone over 20 Tons of shrimp from Thailand are consumed every day in the Casinos alone? Along with other seafood and and that's just in Las Vegas! Thai food is enjoyed all across of America, with the main ingredients coming from Thailand. There is a long friendship between Thailand and America, 181 years. There were ups and downs and there will be more in the future, but in the end the friendship continues intact. Any Country, including the USA, that uses Sanctions as a Diplomatic tool is just Ignorant! Look at the USA sanctions on Russia. No problem, Russia just looks East to China for bi-lateral trade and stability. China recently signed that $400 Billion agreement for Oil and Gas from Russia. So much for sanctions!

[ToddinChonburi]

No I do not blame him personally but lets be fair, We blamed Bush so now we blame Obama !!!! He is the man in charge and for those wonderful fact you write about , mmmmm my electric bill did not go up or my natural gas bill. they are both traded also.

I also wonder why the Wednesday before the holiday gas prices jump .30 cents per gallon

Maybe you can look up the US equivilant price per gallon of gasoline in Iraq. Years ago I read how the Iraq's were protesting fuel going from .5 cents per gallon to .60 cents per gallon.

We also used to be 60 % our own oil and somehow ended up at 40 % How about we clean out our government and start over.

To many politicions enjoying money under the table.

Still trying to figure out how Bill and Hilary rake in over 50 million a year.

[h90]

It's shameful that Mr. Obama and the US Congress has to approve no sanctions against Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Thailand in order to gain their support in the fight against global terror. It is even more shameful that Thais gloat over this as a victory for themselves and delude themselves that it is a condoning of their human trafficking behavior rather than spelling out what exactly they have done to bust Thai Mr. Big human traffickers.

In compare to Saudi Arabia Thailand is the paradise of human rights.

Sanctions hardly will force cooperation. Sanctions on Thailand will do one of 2 things, either Thailand will hire some good lobbyists who with enough funds will make everyone see improvements next year.

Or they get real angry and will get closer to China and Russia.

[rightlineman]

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2014/may/28/facebook-posts/social-media-meme-says-75-have-joined-food-stamp-r/<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Obama is nothing but a huge disappointment, He has done nothing for the working man or the poor.

when he first took office gasoline in my home state dropped to $ 1.53 a gallon by the end of the year it was $ 3.60 and my box of cereal doulble in price, property taxes went up and my income taxes went up. I finally decided it was time to leave.

And You seriously blame President Obama for that personally! You must be kidding. As if he had anything to do with that? Sheeeesh, Gimme a break. The price of Crude is determined on a daily basis in London. 50 wealthy Families control the Global Oil Market. The Rothschilds (Royal Dutch-Shell), The Rockefellers (Exxon-Mobil), etc. Plus, the Chinese auto market is expanding every day along with it's industry, so expect the price of Petroleum to continue to rise. Cereal is also a commodity. Grains are traded on the Chicago Board of Trade Market every day by traders to investors. Property taxes are a local issue as in Municipal, County or State requirements. Income Taxes went up? That is the handi-work of your Congressional Representative. I do have to correct you regarding him NOT doing anything for the working man or poor. For every Job created under his terms in office 48 more people became eligible for Food Stamps. There are a total of 46,000,000 Americans benefiting from that. I do agree with you in his disappointment as a President. I also criticize him for going around Congressional Sessions and him acting like American Royalty and issuing Executive Orders like they are Decrees!

Ah somebody's been blowing hot air out of their azz, as usual can't keep a bias opinion in their post or check on the facts.........This will even

blow it up even further! Of course from the Weekly Standard, maybe someone should do a quick look at the unemployment chart in 2008

[Lannig]

Well, for an old guy like me it all sounds too familiar.

The US of A. are back to their old habits of supporting dic... err, not completely democratic regimes they had in the 70s and 80s, e.g. in Latin America, after a couple of decades trying to make people believe that they weren't doing so anymore.

Mind you, not that I'm holding my breath until EU moves an ear, though. I'm not that stupid.

Edited September 20, 2014 by Lannig

[Jingthing]

The USA gets dissed whatever they do.

If they actively try to promote social justice, they get trashed for being cultural imperialists.

If they just get more practical and focus on self interest only, forget about global human rights, they are being bad world leaders.

So it's always a dance and a pendulum.

I will say selfishly being an American living here it might makes things uncomfortable for my government to get too preachy to Thailand.

[maxman71]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Obama is nothing but a huge disappointment, He has done nothing for the working man or the poor.

when he first took office gasoline in my home state dropped to $ 1.53 a gallon by the end of the year it was $ 3.60 and my box of cereal doulble in price, property taxes went up and my income taxes went up. I finally decided it was time to leave.

A bit of "Buyer's Remorse" ??? Funny, people like me knew back in '08 what Obama was all about and when we raised the warning flags, we were labeled "racists", "teabaggers", "right-wing extremists", ad nauseum. A suggestion: before you vote next time, do your own homework and 86 most of the mainstream media as they have been historically bought off by the real powers that be to dance to the tune they want. I also suggest you use the Constitution as a litmus test against any candidate's record, past actions and statements.

[maxman71]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

The USA gets dissed whatever they do.

If they actively try to promote social justice, they get trashed for being cultural imperialists.

If they just get more practical and focus on self interest only, forget about global human rights, they are being bad world leaders.

So it's always a dance and a pendulum.

I will say selfishly being an American living here it might makes things uncomfortable for my government to get too preachy to Thailand.

Thai/US diplomatic relations date back to 1833. It will take more than some stupid sanctions from the Befuddled One's administration to seriously disrupt that legacy, as more and more of the world don't take him seriously. That being said, I think there may be a China angle in all of this. China is increasing their investments and trade in Thailand as well as all over the world. The US at least needs to try to not pi** off everyone. After shoving FATCA down everyone's throat, time to lay off.

[Tokay]

Bad move. They just green lighted Thailand to do nothing about the problem.

[MyFriend You]

Obama is nothing but a huge disappointment, He has done nothing for the working man or the poor.

when he first took office gasoline in my home state dropped to $ 1.53 a gallon by the end of the year it was $ 3.60 and my box of cereal doulble in price, property taxes went up and my income taxes went up. I finally decided it was time to leave.

Hmmmmm all I know is my Military Retirement Check is about $117 less a month because of raised taxes to pay for Obama Care.......hey, its not much and I am lucky I don't need it, but there are people that do.

Just Sayin