US Ambassador Davies promotes closer economic ties with Thailand

[webfact]

American ambassador promotes closer economic ties with Thailand

BANGKOK, 22 December 2015 (NNT) - The US Ambassador to Thailand has met with Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak to bolster bilateral cooperation on trade and investment.

U.S. Ambassador Glyn T. Davies expressed his gratitude after seeing the Deputy Prime Minister. He revealed that their discussion involved closer ties in trade, investment and science. His Excellency added that he hoped he would have another opportunity to meet with Dr. Somkid again to talk about further cooperation.

The Deputy Prime Minister also praised the US Ambassador for his in-depth understanding of Thai issues. Dr. Somkid said businesspeople from Thailand may travel to the United States to promote joint investments.

Meanwhile, he has instructed the Ministry of Commerce to look into the possibility of setting up a Public Private Partnership. The ministry is expected to address and resolve all issues regarding the partnership.

-- NNT 2015-12-22

[Plutojames88]

The same guy said that the Government of United States was concerned about freedom of speech and LM laws and the subsequent sentences handed out to citizens.

He felt that it was a human rights abuse.

So for this propaganda piece that tries to nullify a position that is deeply held with lines like ""understanding "" the Thai position ....is plain childish folly.

Business is business .

American law forbids normal resumption of relations while they are a military state with no democratic structure.

And the sentiments about the activities are not changed at all.

To suggest otherwise is only for the media locally to digest.

The year will begin as it ends with human rights abuses in the spotlight.

[craigt3365]

I don't see this as being an attempt to nullify his previous statement. One of the big parts of his job is promoting commerce. And that's what he's doing. Just like every other ambassador from every other country.

[rubl]

I guess some don't understand that where the US government may be restricted by law to deal with the Thai government, private business doesn't have the same restrictions.

[Cuchulainn]

Fine. Promote economic ties by all means, but keep your meddling snout out of Thailand's internal affairs.

[craigt3365]

Fine. Promote economic ties by all means, but keep your meddling snout out of Thailand's internal affairs.

It's not just the US. Many nations have expressed their concern with the coup. The EU has severed diplomatic relations also.

http://eeas.europa.eu/thailand/index_en.htm

The European Union and Thailand are bound together by strong and longstanding ties, ranging from trade, tourism, investments and culture, to people to people contacts.

Thailand and the EU have negotiated and initialled a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) which provides a comprehensive and ambitious framework for EU-Thailand relations and will open up wide opportunities to develop cooperation. The EU and its Member States will not sign the PCA with until a democratically elected government is in place.

In response to the military take-over in Thailand in May 2014, the EU has called on the military leadership to restore, as a matter of urgency, the legitimate democratic process and the Constitution, through credible and inclusive elections.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/webmobile/politics/Relations-with-key-Western-allies-remain-strained-30237394.html

The United States, the European Union and Australia have imposed measures to show their disapproval of the coup and continue reviewing whether to impose more measures to mount pressure on the junta.

[Cashboy]

Lets be realistic; USA neds Thailand more than Thailand needs the USA.

The USA seems to be running out of friends in the world fast.

[Mango Bob]

How about lowing the customs fees and import taxes they charge on American good and sell here at outrageous prices.

[Mango Bob]

Fine. Promote economic ties by all means, but keep your meddling snout out of Thailand's internal affairs.

The same could be said about you too.

[jcsmith]

Lets be realistic; USA neds Thailand more than Thailand needs the USA.

The USA seems to be running out of friends in the world fast.

If this is a serious statement, all I can do is shake my head.

[Plutojames88]

What I meant to make clear is the Thai side ""use " business and commerce to try and show a deeper understanding and almost approval where there is none ( regards junta)

Another example of this is the Australian government signing many trade and educational deals with Thailand while banning the actual Thai government from travel to Australia if they are on 200 member panel.

The confusion above is the statements made by Thais in a broader context.

They often misrepresent Envoy's for propaganda purposes

[marinediscoking]

Lets be realistic; USA neds Thailand more than Thailand needs the USA.

The USA seems to be running out of friends in the world fast.

What a complete naive and uniformed statement! It would be the complete opposite. The USA is Thailand's second largest trading partner. Thailand's exports are double to the USA than the USA imports to Thailand. Thailand is no longer strategically Geo-political for America. The closest now is in the south china sea with Vietnam and the Philippines inviting US Navy ships into their ports with the threat from china. There are approximately 300,000 thai expats living in America making it the most sought destination in the world for thia's who want work abroad.

I am guessing this is a statement put out by the current government to calm the fears from factory owners under duress from the possibility that Thailand may lose it's favored import status as the coup continues longer than expected.

Trade statistics: https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/southeast-asia-pacific/thailand

[marinediscoking]

How about lowing the customs fees and import taxes they charge on American good and sell here at outrageous prices.

An example, A red whine I like to drink from California is $6.00 there but sells here in Foodland for 1,400 baht.

[Baerboxer]

Fine. Promote economic ties by all means, but keep your meddling snout out of Thailand's internal affairs.

It's not just the US. Many nations have expressed their concern with the coup. The EU has severed diplomatic relations also.

http://eeas.europa.eu/thailand/index_en.htm

The European Union and Thailand are bound together by strong and longstanding ties, ranging from trade, tourism, investments and culture, to people to people contacts.

Thailand and the EU have negotiated and initialled a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) which provides a comprehensive and ambitious framework for EU-Thailand relations and will open up wide opportunities to develop cooperation. The EU and its Member States will not sign the PCA with until a democratically elected government is in place.

In response to the military take-over in Thailand in May 2014, the EU has called on the military leadership to restore, as a matter of urgency, the legitimate democratic process and the Constitution, through credible and inclusive elections.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/webmobile/politics/Relations-with-key-Western-allies-remain-strained-30237394.html

The United States, the European Union and Australia have imposed measures to show their disapproval of the coup and continue reviewing whether to impose more measures to mount pressure on the junta.

The EU isn't entitled to sever diplomatic relations, nor have they tried to. They have an office here, they have committees (gawd so many committees) planning visits and lot's of useless MEP's. But, they do not speak for the Foreign Policies of member states, much as they would like to and pretend they do.

That's why the UK, Germany, France, Italy are all actively pursuing commerce, education and science links.

The EU has said it won't sign the PCA until a democratically elected government is in place. In the meantime, it's business as usual for the member states who want to.

Ambassador Davies is protecting American interests, part of his job. Just the same as the Western European country Ambassadors do.

Edited December 22, 2015 by Baerboxer

[Baerboxer]

What I meant to make clear is the Thai side ""use " business and commerce to try and show a deeper understanding and almost approval where there is none ( regards junta)

Another example of this is the Australian government signing many trade and educational deals with Thailand while banning the actual Thai government from travel to Australia if they are on 200 member panel.

The confusion above is the statements made by Thais in a broader context.

They often misrepresent Envoy's for propaganda purposes

What a tremendous example of hypocrisy Australia is.

[Cuchulainn]

How about lowing the customs fees and import taxes they charge on American good and sell here at outrageous prices.

An example, A red whine I like to drink from California is $6.00 there but sells here in Foodland for 1,400 baht.

You got that right! A red whine indeed!

[tbthailand]

so is the mad monk back in front of the US embassy - this time with his li'l bucket for alms?

Edited December 22, 2015 by tbthailand

[AGareth2]

has he had his attitude adjusted?

[siliconvalley]

Wow...

Forget about it....

The U.S. is just giving Thailand a 5 mil. tip.

How can science help a country who can't even understand the law.

[jesimps]

Lets be realistic; USA neds Thailand more than Thailand needs the USA.

The USA seems to be running out of friends in the world fast.

Please expand that analysis.

[craigt3365]

The EU isn't entitled to sever diplomatic relations, nor have they tried to. They have an office here, they have committees (gawd so many committees) planning visits and lot's of useless MEP's. But, they do not speak for the Foreign Policies of member states, much as they would like to and pretend they do.

That's why the UK, Germany, France, Italy are all actively pursuing commerce, education and science links.

The EU has said it won't sign the PCA until a democratically elected government is in place. In the meantime, it's business as usual for the member states who want to.

Ambassador Davies is protecting American interests, part of his job. Just the same as the Western European country Ambassadors do.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/EU-suspends-mutual-visits-30236961.html

The European Union yesterday reduced ties with Thailand by suspending mutual official visits and refusing to sign a partnership and cooperation accord with the country until a democratically elected government is in place.

The measures follow sanctions imposed on military cooperation by the United States and Australia after the coup on May 22.

At their meeting in Luxembourg, EU foreign ministers condemned the military seizure of power and agreed to take the punitive measures to back-up calls for an urgent return to democratic rule.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-scales-back-ties-with-thailand-1403549907

LUXEMBOURG—The European Union will scale back political ties with Thailand following the recent coup, putting on hold the signing of a political pact and suspending official visits, the bloc said Monday.