Olarn upbeat ahead of EU talks
Thailand is confident of being competitive during the first round of free-trade talks with the European Union even though there is no level playing field in the service industry.
Olarn Chaipravat, the chief Thailand Trade Representative and head of the negotiating team, said yesterday that he is sure that Thailand can bargain for the best benefits for the country, even though the EU has more advantages in some areas and would like to push for more liberalisation in services.
The first round of discussions on a proposed Thailand-EU Free Trade Agreement is scheduled for May 27-30 in Brussels with the target for completion by 2015.
As a starting point, the EU has proposed that Thailand open up its telecommunications, finance and logistics markets. The EU also wants to see more progress on the intellectual property issue and will emphasise transparency in government procurement and the promotion of sustainable development.
Thailand will ask the EU to liberalise farm goods, agribusiness and industrial products industries as well as seek reduction of trade and non-trade barriers.
Olarn said an FTA with the EU would not only improve Thailand’s competitiveness on the global stage but also increase trade and investment between the two sides. The pact would encourage technology transfer and put Thailand on a level playing field with the EU’s other trading partners.
The pact would let Thailand continue to enjoy tariff privileges after tax breaks are withdrawn under a revision to the EU’s Generalised System of Preferences in 2014.
Thailand’s working committee consisting of government, private-sector and civil-society representatives will consider issues of concern to prevent undesirable fallout on some industries from an FTA, he added.
Some sensitive issues are reportedly taxes on cigarettes and alcohol and enforcement of intellectual property rights.
