Thailand seeks to join TPP
NHK | 30 March 2018
Thailand seeks to join TPP
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said this to reporters on Thursday.
He said it is important to prepare for being a member of the free trade agreement.
The deputy prime minister added a working team will be set up in the Ministry of Commerce and the government will seek support from Japan on the matter.
Thailand had hoped to make progress in negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, which consists of Japan, China, India, and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The 11 member nations signed the TPP agreement earlier this month. The partnership will go into force 60 days after at least 6 member countries complete domestic procedures, such as gaining parliamentary approval.
Thailand’s government apparently decided to join the TPP to avoid losing out in multilateral free trade.
