FTA with Japan: who gains more?
Bangkok Post
FTA with Japan: who gains more?
10 August 2005
Khao Sod Editorial, Aug 8 _ Who will benefit the most from the Thailand-Japan Free Trade Area (FTA) agreement which has been approved in principle by the two countries?
The question must be investigated because very little information has been made public by the Thaksin government, despite persistent calls for transparency from civic groups and business operators concerned about the negative impact of the FTA.
The government has assured that the FTA would help Thailand earn an additional 42 billion baht from exporting agricultural products to Japan. But the Federation of Thai Industries maintains that Thailand’s trade deficit with Japan will increase to 200 billion baht this year as a result of the FTA.
Despite these revelations, the general public is still in the dark about the pros and cons of this free trade agreement. The government has not tabled the matter for debate in the House of Representatives, claiming that the FTA is not a treaty. This may be true, but we see no harm in letting the House debate the issue, which has great implications for a large number of Thai people.
People want to know what Thailand will gain and lose. If there is no hidden agenda, as the government has claimed, why doesn’t the government make the agreement public?
People have good reason to be suspicious. Previous FTAs signed between Thailand and its trade partners have adversely affected a large number of Thai farmers and small business operators, while the business elite benefited handsomely.
In the case of Japan, the effects on Thai farmers and small business operators will be greater because the FTA covers diverse areas of trade and investment.
