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Does Thailand Really Want to Join the TPP?
By Prashanth Parameswaran

Bangkok is uttering maybes. But it is unclear if it can get to yes

BANGKOK: -- On Monday, The Bangkok Post reported that Thailand’s deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak had said his country would be interested in joining the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

“We are very interested but we must weigh the advantages and disadvantages carefully,” Somkid said of the mammoth free trade pact whose 12 current members comprise around 40 percent of the global economy. Expressing interest, Somkid added, would put Thailand “on their radar screen.”

In the broadest sense, Somkid’s cautious optimism is nothing new. U.S. officials have long held the belief that Thailand, in addition to other countries like the Philippines, would probably be one of the countries that will eventually sign on to the TPP, joining their four existing ASEAN partners Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. Since the TPP is a ‘living agreement,’ additional countries would be able to join even once the current 12 members finish negotiations.

What remain unclear are the specifics such as roughly when Thailand might join or how it might overcome domestic challenges to doing so. Under the former government led by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Thailand had expressed its unequivocal intention to enter the TPP back in 2012.

Full story: http://thediplomat.com/2015/09/does-thailand-really-want-to-join-the-tpp/

-- THE DIPLOMAT 2015-09-16

[Lunchbob]

joining this would be a horfible mistake.

[fred Kubasa]

The normal which requires removal of at least 3 important sections,

modification of 9 others and waiver of Thai responsibility if anything goes wrong. Then it will be steered thru 23 sub committees,18 committeees which

will refer it to MOD, ( Mulling Over Dept ), and this program will have dies of old age.

[Pib]

But when you enter into a trade treaty a country has to follow the rules of the treaty...Thailand is not good at following rules.

Probably just all talk about wanting to join TPP to give the population the impression the govt is moving forward in improving and expanding trade...Yinluck's govt and the current govt are just giving TPP lip service....it's just blah...blah...blah.

[laocowboy2]

Joining means

• Observing agreed rules and regulations
• Treating other signatory countries and their companies/products exactly the same as Thai companies
• Cutting tariff barriers and ending quotas

Thailand? You have to be joking.

[Seastallion]

NO!

The TPP is designed, quite insidiously, to benefit US corporations only. America will own whichever countries sign it.

Figuratively speaking.

[arfurcrown]

Does Thailand really want to join the TPP?

Wouldn't touch with mine let alone yours !!

[NCC1701A]

"...pharmaceutical patents and biodiversity remain major issues for the country."

wake up Thailand... why do you think Americans are leaving the USA in record numbers?

tell every Thai person you know that this is the end of their culture, Independence and freedom.

better to be a slave to your own people.

has Cambodia joined this shit?

[elgordo38]

But when you enter into a trade treaty a country has to follow the rules of the treaty...Thailand is not good at following rules.

Probably just all talk about wanting to join TPP to give the population the impression the govt is moving forward in improving and expanding trade...Yinluck's govt and the current govt are just giving TPP lip service....it's just blah...blah...blah.

Well there goes my chance to buy some really nice New Zealand steaks at a reasonable price. I often wonder what they do with the overpriced ones at my local supermarket after they sit on the shelves for weeks. Hamburger anyone?

[elgordo38]

NO!

The TPP is designed, quite insidiously, to benefit US corporations only. America will own whichever countries sign it.

Figuratively speaking.

I tend to disagree. Manufacturing like during the signing of NAFTA(which gutted manufacturing in the west except for Mexico the big winner) is already scoping out Vietnam for locations close to large pools of cheap docile labor. Like the movie said its "Good Morning Vietnam" time. Vietnam is not stupid its why they beat the south and the Americans with their low key warfare. America sold the farm also to China and they by no means "own" China. China manipulates its currency businesses pollution laws and many other things that violate trade agreements but then these agreement are not worth the paper they are written on.They are a stage show for their citizens to garner their love and support at the ballot box. If anything China owns the USA lock stock and treasury bills.

[elgordo38]

The normal which requires removal of at least 3 important sections,

modification of 9 others and waiver of Thai responsibility if anything goes wrong. Then it will be steered thru 23 sub committees,18 committeees which

will refer it to MOD, ( Mulling Over Dept ), and this program will have dies of old age.

You would also need true democracy to float this ship. Even then it would prove to be a Herculean task.

[SaintLouisBlues]

The TPP is dead, only the funeral remains. It died at the Hawaii meeting last month

[Seastallion]

NO!

The TPP is designed, quite insidiously, to benefit US corporations only. America will own whichever countries sign it.

Figuratively speaking.

I tend to disagree. Manufacturing like during the signing of NAFTA(which gutted manufacturing in the west except for Mexico the big winner) is already scoping out Vietnam for locations close to large pools of cheap docile labor. Like the movie said its "Good Morning Vietnam" time. Vietnam is not stupid its why they beat the south and the Americans with their low key warfare. America sold the farm also to China and they by no means "own" China. China manipulates its currency businesses pollution laws and many other things that violate trade agreements but then these agreement are not worth the paper they are written on.They are a stage show for their citizens to garner their love and support at the ballot box. If anything China owns the USA lock stock and treasury bills.

Let me re-phrase.....US corporations will own whichever countries that sign it, or sue their small to medium companies to bankruptcy, and the bigger companies to docility.

If you thought Monsanto was out of control, wait till the TPP kicks in.

[Seastallion]

The TPP is dead, only the funeral remains. It died at the Hawaii meeting last month

That's great news....how did this come about?

[wabothai]

NO!

The TPP is designed, quite insidiously, to benefit US corporations only. America will own whichever countries sign it.

Figuratively speaking.

PTP stands for and works towards global dictatorship.

Be smart Thailand !!

[Srikcir]

Prayut might suggest the USA move Thailand to Tier 2 in exchange for its membership in TPP. Win-win for both US and Thailand.

[Wombat6]

Anything led by the US and anything that Yingluck was interested in, should be avoided in my opinion

[Wombat6]

Anything led by the US and anything that Yingluck was interested in, should be avoided in my opinion