FTA Watch asks Thai Commerce Ministry for details of TPP talks

[webfact]

FTA Watch asks Commerce Ministry for details of TPP talks

BANGKOK, 1 June 2016 (NNT) – The Ministry of Commerce has been requested to make public its discussions on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal for widespread vetting.

Free Trade Agreement Watch (FTA Watch), a group studying government trade deals, has met with Minister of Commerce Apiradee Tantraporn to request that her office reveal the details of its discussions on the TPP deal. The group wishes to thoroughly study the figures presented in the plan, especially its benefits and downsides.

FTA Watch is planning to hold a forum on the TPP to compile opinions on the major deal, which was initiated by the US as part of its pivot towards Asia. The forum’s discussion will be used to decide if FTA Watch will recommend the state pursue the deal or withdraw from it.

The group has assured it is not currently opposed to the TPP but wishes to make sure it is thoroughly vetted.

Apiradee assured FTA Watch that her ministry has collected public views on the issue and has kept the public abreast of its work. She stated that it is currently reviewing suggestions from studies conducted by other private groups.


-- NNT 2016-06-01

[Rancid]

Didn't realise the Thais would be silly enough to sign up to the TPP like the other suckers like Australia, the agreement by corporate US for and on behalf of corporate US.

Bad deal for any western workers, some low wage countries may get some benefits, but is giving up their sovereignty to US corporations worth it?

Don't want GM foods? Monsanto will be able to sue a government (in a US tribunal of course) and force it upon them. The list goes on, welcome to the Corporatocracy, a mix of all the ugly traits of fascism, oligopoly and capitalism rolled into one.

[anon467367354]

What details? All the e details are secret. The largest corporation in the world (USA) wants you to sign something but you are not privy to the details. If Thailand makes the stupid move and signs this, goodbye Thailand, goodbye sovereignty, hello colonization to the 1000th degree. Nothing could be more stupid!

[Srikcir]

FTA Watch wants Minister Apiradee to make public its discussions on the Trans-Pacific Partnership

Simple - there are none.

Even though the Thai SME sector, DPM for Economic Affairs Somkid and Chairman of the Thai National Shippers' Council Nopporn Thepsithar, support Thailand joining TPP

But there are several problems that are not limited to TPP - Thailand's industrial and service sectors need to ensure international competitiveness. At the moment Thailand lags behind the other ASEAN countries in preparedness and still clings to archaic protectionsist laws and regulations that limits it trade options to largely low value commodity-based Foreign Trade Deals.

TPP requires significant trade liberalism and transparency that Prayut seems to resist. Because of his recent security and trade agreements with Russia and China while seemingly eschewing improved trade relations with the EU and the USA, he may also be trapped in his own foreign policies. Prayut is simply not prepared to join TPP and it has nothing to do with protecting Thailand's soveriengty but more of protecting military soveriengty.

[bheard]

Maybe the Thais have form here and figure they can win with the TPP.

Looking at the FTA deal they did with Australia, they are well in front.

Australia got screwed in that one. Look, I like Aussies, I am one even, but when it comes to international agreements on trade, we are absolute suckers.

[Usernames]

No worry, here. Once he becomes president, Trump will kill the TPP.

[metisdead]

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