Both sides will consider compensation levels for Thailand as a result of potential market losses following the tariff hike, according to Winichai Chamgchaeng, deputy director-general of the department.

The EU announcement was made under WTO regulations that aim to protect domestic manufacturers from being flooded with cheap imports.

Imported poultry products outside the EU's quota rate will be subject to a tariff of ¤102 (Bt4,900) per 100 kilograms. The current tariff levels for in-quota exports on poultry products to the EU are 11 per cent on cooked products, 15 per cent on salted products and 8.5 per cent on turkey. - The Nation.

Jetro survey: Business sentiment subdued

The Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro)'s monthly survey of Japanese companies and affiliates operating in 12 countries and regions of East Asia shows that business sentiments remain subdued in the Asean region, but buoyant in mainland China this month.

Although overall business sentiment for five Asean countries included in the survey improved by 3.4 points over the past month, the index remained in negative territory for the ninth consecutive month. Individual indices improved for all countries in August with the exception of Singapore.

In Thailand, an upbeat sentiment was noted among Japanese firms in the country's transport equipment sector, due to growing exports and recovering domestic demand.

On the back of expanding global demand for semi-conductors, strong business confidence detected among Japanese electrical/electronics manufacturers in Malaysia and the Philippines helped push indices higher in these countries. - The Nation.

Travel industry: Pata aims to build links in Gulf

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (Pata) is committed to forging stronger strategic alliances with the travel industry in the Gulf. It has appointed Nicki Page, executive director of Fusion Marketing Management, a Dubai-based specialist tourism-marketing consultancy, as its regional representative.

After working with Pata on a project basis, Page was formally appointed Pata director for the Gulf Region, at a recent global planning meeting in Bangkok.

Pata president and CEO Peter de Jong said the Gulf was a large and expanding source of travellers for the Asia Pacific region, with visitor arrivals to Asia, growing at an average of 12 per cent per year since 2001.

He said airlines were also recognising the huge two-way growth potential between the Gulf and Asia, with scheduled seat capacity rising from 276,000 per week in 2000 to 430,000 per week this year. - The Nation.

Globalisation lecture: Strategist to talk in Bangkok

A special lecture on globalisation is being planned by the Civil Service Commission in cooperation with the Association of Thai Government Scholarship Students and the Civil Service Executive Society.

"Thailand@the Next Global Stage: A Road Map for Action in the Borderless World" will include a lecture by Kenichi Ohmae, recognised globally as one of the world's leading business and corporate strategists.

Ohmae has written more than 100 books, including "The Mind of the Strategist", "The Borderless World", "The Invisible Continent" and "The Next Global Stage".

The lecture will be held on September 8 from

3pm-5pm at the Royal Thai Navy Convention Hall.

- The Nation.