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Thailand

FTA negotiators fear financial sector liberalisation could trigger capital outflow
25-Oct-2005 MCOT
Dr. Narongchai Akraseranee, chairman of the Working Group on FTA Negotiations, reaffirms that Thailand will not speed up the opening of its financial sector because domestic players are not ready for such competition. The Working Group is also concerned about possible capital outflows once liberalisation frees up deposit transactions.
Snag hit on services: Bilateral FTA talks now at halfway point
24-Oct-2005 Bangkok Post
Thailand is unlikely to gain much benefit from service sector liberalisation in a free trade area (FTA) agreement with the United States, a Thai trade negotiator says as the talks reach their halfway point.
As the TNCs catch you: An analysis of the liberalization of biotechnological products in the Thai-US FTA
21-Oct-2005 APRN
One of the books the Thai Prime Minister suggested his cabinet members read was “As the Future Catches You” by Juan Enriquez, a Mexican writer. The book’s contents relate to the fact that countries need to catch up with the development of biotechnology. Otherwise they will be alienated and left behind.
Mitsubishi eyes Asia for expansion
19-Oct-2005 Business Report
Japan’s Mitsubishi Motor has set its sights on Thailand and other Asian nations for future expansion, the president of the automaker said on Tuesday. "With FTAs (free trade agreements) envisioned with Asian countries, such as ASEAN and India, we should reap benefits of such initiatives," Masuko said.
Finance liberalisation: Cabinet baulks on alien law changes
18-Oct-2005 The Nation
Thai Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said yesterday that proposed amendments to the Alien Business Act would not be presented to the Cabinet today, apparently because of growing public resentment about further opening up the country to foreign investors.
’Negative list’ approach seen for US talks
13-Oct-2005 Bangkok Post
Thai negotiators could ultimately be forced to accept a "negative list" approach in negotiating the Thailand-US free trade area agreement, according to Pongpanu Svetarunvra, deputy director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office. Under a negative list approach, all sectors and services will be liberalised except for those explicitly stated in the agreement.
Thai FTA hits rules of origin roadblock
7-Oct-2005 Economic Times
The much-publicised Thai FTA seems to be stuck in first gear. According to sources in the auto industry, it is stuck over the rules of origin issue, which has been a contentious issue right from the beginning.
Chile next in line for FTA
7-Oct-2005 The Nation
Thailand and Chile have agreed to conduct a joint study on a potential free-trade agreement (FTA) in order to establish bilateral access to regional markets.
US, Thailand make ’significant progress’ in free trade talks
4-Oct-2005 AFP
The United States and Thailand have made "significant progress" in their latest round of talks to forge a free trade agreement, the US Trade Representative’s office said on Monday.
Hawaii talks leave key points out
3-Oct-2005 Bangkok Post
Thailand and the United States have sorted out some technical issues but not major points during the week-long fifth round of the Thailand-US free trade talks that ended yesterday in Hawaii.
Negotiations on Thai-US FTA on well progress
2-Oct-2005 MCOT
Negotiations between Thailand and the United States on a planned bilateral free trade area (FTA) are on well progress in its fifth round, with Washington agreeing in principle to protect Thai intellectual property on the Internet and to use the Thai laws to take care of the environment.
Financial institutions urged to resist seizure by foreign investors
30-Sep-2005 MCOT
Local financial institutions need to adjust themselves to resist possible business seizure by foreign investors in a wake of the liberalization of trade with many countries in the world, according to a top banker.
Attracting FDI through the Spread of Free Trade Agreements
30-Sep-2005 Thai Labour Campaign
This paper shows how free trade agreements (FTAs) in Southeast Asia are essentially a means to secure foreign direct investment (FDI) at the expense of labour standards. It explores the significance of FDI in export-oriented industrialisation and for economic transformation in Southeast Asia, with emphasis on the increasing global competition for FDI.
Thailand’s bilateral trade pacts face mixed reception
30-Sep-2005 VOA
Thailand has been aggressively negotiating bilateral and regional trade agreements in the face of the uncertainty over whether the WTO will reach a deal on liberalizing global trade. But the agreements fail to live up to expectations of increased trade and investment.
The importance of the FTA to Thailand
30-Sep-2005 American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand
Ambassador Nitya Pibulsonggram, the chief negotiator for the Thailand-US Free Trade Agreement, spoke to AMCHAM members on May 25, 2005 about the importance of the FTA to Thailand.
India’s Tata to set up truck plant in Thailand: Thai official
23-Sep-2005 Asia Pulse
Tata Motors was in the process of setting up a pick-up truck manufacturing plant in Thailand, from where it could access the ASEAN and the Chinese markets through the Free Trade Area (FTA) treaties, a top Thailand trade representative said here.
US responsive to Thai concerns
22-Sep-2005 Bangkok Post
US congressmen have pledged to accommodate Thailand’s concerns about drug prices and freer mobility for Thais into the United States once the two countries conclude their free trade area (FTA) agreement.
Not all share PM’s wish for fast FTA
22-Sep-2005 The Nation
Finance Minister Thanong Bidaya said yesterday that the Thai-US free-trade agreement (FTA) would be difficult to hurry as Thai bankers are concerned about competing with their sophisticated counterparts in the field of e-banking. “I can’t say when the deal could be concluded because both sides still use absolutely different approaches,” Thanong said.
Leaders agree to conclude US-Thai FTA in 2006
21-Sep-2005 Asia Pulse
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and US President George W Bush agreed Monday to make vigorous efforts to reach a conclusion on the US-Thai Free Trade Agreement (FTA) next year, the leaders said in a joint statement.
Thai farmers head to the US
20-Sep-2005 Bangkok Post
As senior bureaucrats from Thailand and the US prepare to enter the fifth round of negotiations over the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Hawaii later this month, two Thai organic farmers have started their own campaign in the US. Phakpum Inpaen and Kanya Onsri from Surin province left Thailand yesterday on a 23-day circuit tour to talk to people in the US about how the FTA deal will threaten their survival.