ID :
190603
Thu, 06/23/2011 - 10:06
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/190603
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Thailand prepares for two FTAs with Europe
BANGKOK, June 23 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Commerce is prepared to liberalize trade with Europe through free trade agreements with the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
Veerachai Nopsuwanwong, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry’s Department of Trade Negotiations, chaired a seminar here on Thursday to prepare stakeholders for the introduction of the Thailand-EU and the Thailand EFTA trade deals, especially on their impacts.
Veerachai said the EU always expressed interest in sealing a free trade agreement with Thailand after negotiations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the EU stopped in 2009. The EFTA, meanwhile, which comprises Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland, called for a resumption of free trade talks with Thailand following a halt in 2004 from a change in government.
Veerachai noted that at this stage, his department was in the process of drafting a negotiation framework for the FTAs, based on opinions and recommendations from concerned parties in Thailand, and expected to propose them to the next cabinet and parliament.
The EU was known as the fourth most important trade partner of Thailand after Southeast Asia, Japan and China. The average trade value between Thailand and the EU amounted to 34,554.85 million US dollars annually from 2008 to 2010. Last year, their trade value was recorded at 35,072.40 million US dollars, rising by 18.21 per cent.
The EFTA, meanwhile, was the 17th most important trade partner of Thailand. Their average trade value amounted to 7,487.37 million US dollars annually from 2008 to 2010, reaching 9,879.8 million US dollars in 2010 alone. (TNA)
Veerachai Nopsuwanwong, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry’s Department of Trade Negotiations, chaired a seminar here on Thursday to prepare stakeholders for the introduction of the Thailand-EU and the Thailand EFTA trade deals, especially on their impacts.
Veerachai said the EU always expressed interest in sealing a free trade agreement with Thailand after negotiations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the EU stopped in 2009. The EFTA, meanwhile, which comprises Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland, called for a resumption of free trade talks with Thailand following a halt in 2004 from a change in government.
Veerachai noted that at this stage, his department was in the process of drafting a negotiation framework for the FTAs, based on opinions and recommendations from concerned parties in Thailand, and expected to propose them to the next cabinet and parliament.
The EU was known as the fourth most important trade partner of Thailand after Southeast Asia, Japan and China. The average trade value between Thailand and the EU amounted to 34,554.85 million US dollars annually from 2008 to 2010. Last year, their trade value was recorded at 35,072.40 million US dollars, rising by 18.21 per cent.
The EFTA, meanwhile, was the 17th most important trade partner of Thailand. Their average trade value amounted to 7,487.37 million US dollars annually from 2008 to 2010, reaching 9,879.8 million US dollars in 2010 alone. (TNA)
