Thai livestock industry opposes TPP agreement
Thai PBS | February 17, 2016
Livestock industry opposes TPP agreement
The Swine Raisers Association of Thailand and other livestock groups in the country yesterday protested against the country’s move to enter into the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement claiming that in doing so it will bring enormous damages to Thailand’s livestock industry.
Surachai Suthitham, the president of the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand, along with 11 other local livestock groups joined together to hand in a formal complaint to Mrs Sunantha Kangwankulkij, the deputy director-general of the Department of Trade Negotiations.
The groups were voicing their opposition towards plans for entry into TPP agreement reasoning that it will result in losses in excess of 350 billion baht for the local livestock industry.
They stated that they would prefer for the government to enter into other trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) or the Asean Free Trade Area (AFTA) instead. RCEP alone has 10 member nations and 6 other nations as trade partners. The latter includes China, Korea, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand.
But Ms Sunantha in turn stated that she will receive the complaint and will pass on the matter to the relevant department.
She said that a public hearing is being planned to hear the opinions of all the parties involved in the matter.
The final resolution will then be forwarded to the prime minister as soon as possible.
She added that at present, the matter has been handed over to the Panyapiwat Institute of Management to study.
