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Thailand

Initial phase of talks with Tokyo to be wrapped in July, says Somkid
5-May-2005
Agreement on the initial phase of the Thailand-Japan free trade agreement is expected by July, according to Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.
Zoellick’s visit fails to ease Thai concerns
5-May-2005
Thailand was Robert Zoellick’s first stop on a week-long visit to Southeast Asia to discuss economic, security and political issues.
Trade negotiators keep secret on latest steel proposals
5-May-2005
The Thai team overseeing the free trade agreement negotiations with Japan have reached agreement on the controversial issue of liberalisation of steel, according to a source close to the national committee overseeing the talks.
Conclusion on Thai-Japanese FTA expected in July
4-May-2005 MCOT
The head of the government’s Thai-Japanese free trade area (FTA) negotiating team yesterday expressed confidence that Thailand and Japan would come to a conclusion on a free trade deal by July, but said that Thailand’s stance on the issue remained confidential.
US moves to break free trade impasse with Southeast Asia
3-May-2005 Zee News
Deputy US Secretary of State Robert Zoellick is determined to break a free trade impasse with Southeast Asia during a visit to the region this week.
Parts makers up in arms against FTA
3-May-2005
Thai auto parts manufacturers have expressed strong opposition to a plan to reduce tariffs on imported Japanese automobiles with engines larger than 3,000cc under the proposed Thailand-Japan free trade agreement.
Thailand has little to gain in trade pact with US
29-Apr-2005 Bangkok Post
The FTA with the US would tighten the intellectual property rights regime even further, offering no perceptible benefit to Thailand
FTAs key to accessing new markets
29-Apr-2005
Despite the pitfalls and opportunities inherent in FTAs, they are sweeping the world and will continue growing as long as the World Trade Organisation is unable to coordinate comprehensive tariff reductions worldwide, experts said at a Bangkok seminar yesterday. Thus, Thai exporters were advised to try to work within the confines of bilateral and regional pacts.
EU worries that Thai-Japan FTA could hit auto industry
28-Apr-2005
The proposed Thai-Japanese free trade agreement should be carefully considered so as not to disadvantage other trading partners, European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson told Thailand yesterday.
FTA prompts boost in logistics cooperation with China
28-Apr-2005
Thailand is poised to open at least four new consulates in China, and is accelerating the development of logistics operations with China in anticipation of the birth of the Chinese-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade aAea in 2010, Deputy Foreign Minister Preecha Laohapongchana revealed today.
Textile makers oppose FTA over origin of raw materials
26-Apr-2005
Thai textile and garment producers say they will lose opportunities to sell to Japan if conditions requested by Tokyo are incorporated into a free trade area (FTA) agreement now being negotiated.
Editorial: Asian FTA negotiations: It’s up to Tokyo to set a positive example
26-Apr-2005 Asahi Shumbun
The Thailand-Japan free trade agreement will be counterproductive in Japan’s trade negotiations with other countries in the days ahead.
Thailand-US FTA: "Whatever we have to sacrifice must be sacrificed, if that helps get a better deal"
26-Apr-2005 Focus
The third round of Thailand-US free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations ended on 8 April with great disappointment for civil society activists because people’s demand and concerns were cast aside.
The regional free trade juggernaut - A poisoned chalice
25-Apr-2005
Last week saw both the signing of a Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and Thailand and another round of negotiations with Chile and Singapore on a Closer Economic Partnership, (P-3) probably now ’successfully’ concluded. "Yet few New Zealanders know about these agreements and their negative implications for many of the worst off citizens in all the countries involved", says the Action Research and Education Network of Aotearoa (ARENA).
New Zealand-Thailand FTA deal likely to boost exports
19-Apr-2005
The free trade area (FTA) agreement, to be signed by New Zealand and Thailand soon, is likely to help make exports grow as targeted since various kinds of products will benefit from the deal, according to the KASIKORN Research Center.
Thailand signs FTA with NZ
19-Apr-2005
Thailand signed a free trade agreement with New Zealand yesterday.
Joint statement New Zealand-Thailand Prime Ministerial meeting
19-Apr-2005
Prime Ministers Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand and Helen Clark of New Zealand today announced the signing of a Closer Economic Partnership (CEP) Agreement between their two countries.
Constitutional crisis looming over Thai-US FTA
14-Apr-2005 IPS
If critics of the Thai government’s international trade policies have their way, then the current negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between Bangkok and Washington could evolve into constitutional crisis for this Southeast Asian nation.
Signatures to stalk FTA
10-Apr-2005
Opponents of the Thai-US free trade agreement are gathering 50,000 signatures to sponsor a bill requiring the government to get public and parliamentary approval for any commitments it reaches with a foreign country.
Thailand pressured to exclude autos from FTA talks with Japan
9-Apr-2005 Kyodo
US and European carmakers recently demanded the Thai government exclude the automobile sector from free trade negotiations with Japan and warned that they may abandon investment in Thailand if import tariffs on Japanese luxury cars are lifted, local media reported Friday.