ID :
189465
Sat, 06/18/2011 - 14:51
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http://m.oananews.org//node/189465
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Thailand pushes for regional trade liberalization
BANGKOK, June 18 (TNA) - Thailand has called on other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to address non-tariff trade barriers.
Somkiart Triratanaphan, Deputy Director-General of the Thai Ministry of Commerce's Department of Trade Negotiations, said although ASEAN member states are to cut their import tariffs to zero per cent in the lead-up to the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015, many countries have maintained their non-tariff trade barriers--which should obstruct the establishment of the AEC over the next four years.
Somkiart noted that such non-tariff barriers have existed in the forms of bans on imports of what are unilaterally-claimed substandard or unsafe products, urging all ASEAN member countries to, instead, apply to the same standard. Somkiart, admitted, however that the process will take times, as it took the European Union (EU) as long as some 20 years to achieve such the common standard.
According to the senior official, ASEAN has become Thailand's largest export market over the past two years, replacing the United States and Japan, with Thai exports to ASEAN neighbours exceeding 44 billion US dollars, or some 22.6 per cent of the country's total exports during the period. (TNA)
Somkiart Triratanaphan, Deputy Director-General of the Thai Ministry of Commerce's Department of Trade Negotiations, said although ASEAN member states are to cut their import tariffs to zero per cent in the lead-up to the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015, many countries have maintained their non-tariff trade barriers--which should obstruct the establishment of the AEC over the next four years.
Somkiart noted that such non-tariff barriers have existed in the forms of bans on imports of what are unilaterally-claimed substandard or unsafe products, urging all ASEAN member countries to, instead, apply to the same standard. Somkiart, admitted, however that the process will take times, as it took the European Union (EU) as long as some 20 years to achieve such the common standard.
According to the senior official, ASEAN has become Thailand's largest export market over the past two years, replacing the United States and Japan, with Thai exports to ASEAN neighbours exceeding 44 billion US dollars, or some 22.6 per cent of the country's total exports during the period. (TNA)
