Japan's help sought on Thailand's TPP membership

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VISIT JAPAN
Japan's help sought on TPP membership
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand will encourage Japan to support the country joining the Trans-Pacific Partner-ship in the near future, as well as asking for higher import quotas for certain products.

Meanwhile Japan will ask Thailand to increase imports of Japanese steel to support car |production in the Kingdom.

Those proposals will be on the agenda during Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak's mission leading Thai economic ministers to Japan from November 25-28.

After a meeting yesterday between Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn and Japanese Ambassador to Thailand Shiro Sadoshima, Sirinart Jaimun, |director-general of the ministry's Trade Negotiations Department, said Thailand and Japan |would strengthen cooperation during the Somkid mission, |focusing on increased bilateral trade and investment.

During the mission, the two countries will set up a High Level Joint Commission for government officials.

There will also be a meeting of government officials and Thai and Japanese private enterprises to address trade and investment problems.

As Japan is already part of |the TPP, Thailand will ask it to |support the Kingdom's membership in the future.

Sirinart said Thailand would ask Japan to increase import quotas for many products, mainly processed pork, mangoes, limes and oranges.

Thailand exported 6,400 tonnes of processed pork to Japan last year, but the quota was only 1,200 tonnes. Thus the excess exports faced a tariff of 20 per cent, while the tariff within the quota allowance is 16 per cent.

On the other hand, Japan |will ask Thailand to increase the import quota for steel to support its |automobile industry. Currently, the Thai quota is about 530,000 tonnes.

Japan and Thailand will encourage the finalisation of |the Asean-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement before the |end of this year to liberalise trade |in goods, services and investment.

In the first eight months of this year, two-way trade between Thailand and Japan declined |by 8.52 per cent to US$34.85|billion (Bt1.239 trillion).

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Japans-help-sought-on-TPP-membership-30272358.html

-- The Nation 2015-11-06

[Somtamnication]

Asking Japan to help it join the TPP? The other TPP members did it on their own. Wonder why Thailand needs help?

[Thailand]

Increase steel imports for auto production when sales are down by 35% does not seem the smartest idea?

[cougar52]

If Thailand joins the TPP, it must give up their idea of import taxes that are over the top. In 2001 I brought a BMW that cost 4.1 million Baht, that same car could have been purchased in the U.S. for 886.000 Baht.

My thinking!!

[NongKhaiKid]

Asking Japan to help it join the TPP? The other TPP members did it on their own. Wonder why Thailand needs help?

Is this Thainess with LoS thinking they need to join but the process will require a lot work to be done so maybe get someone else to do the legwork ?

[razer]

Not a good idea to join TPP. Only winners are USA corporations. Thailand may get to sell bananas with no tariff to the USA but American Big Pharma will control the Thai pharmaceutical market.

http://ringoffireradio.com/2015/11/04/obama-still-will-not-release-the-text-of-the-tpp-secret-trade-dea/

[elgordo38]

Asking Japan to help it join the TPP? The other TPP members did it on their own. Wonder why Thailand needs help?

I cannot see how they are eligible under the present type of government in charge although Vietnam did sneak in and I think we all know how and why. Also human rights needs more work.

[fred Kubasa]

Probably won't help as it is rumored that Thailand insists on Thai being theofficial language !

[Srikcir]

Maybe Japan can export more kobe beef to Thailand duty-free.

[Srikcir]

"Thailand will encourage Japan to support the country joining the Trans-Pacific Partner-ship in the near future"

Membership isn't voted on. Even China has been considering to join. Once the founding 12 members have all individually ratified the TTP, new members can be added by legislation within their own countries. The US just recently ratified its own membership TPP.

So I suspect the help the Junta is requesting from Japan has more to do with what legislation is needed and what Thailand's import-export strategy would be under the TTP, especially with regard to trade with Japan. The Junta could have just as easily approached the other 11 members that includes Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.