Thailand asks for Italy's assistance
Play
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Niwatthumrong Boonsongpaisan sought Italy's help for Thailand's agricultural and fishery products export to the European Union.
Through a bilateral discussion with Italian deputy prime minister Carlo Calenda on the sidelines of the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia, Niwatthumrong said that the EU should further extend export privileges to Thailand.
The EU announced that it would cut the generalised system of preferences extended to Thailand in 2014. This means Thailand's agricultural and fishery products would no longer enjoy the zero per cent import tariffs.
Italy will next year take the presidency of the Council of the European Union.
"Taking the EU presidency, Italy is asked to push for special tax reliefs for Thai exports in place of the GSP. The reliefs should be in place until the (Thai-EU) FTA (free trade agreement) will be enforced late 2014. Italy also has the view that the FTA could be completed around the middle of next year," Niwatthumrong said.
