FTA funding panel convenes tomorrow for the first time
The Trade Negotiations Department will hold the first meeting tomorrow of the Free-Trade Fund Committee, which aims to assist farmers and manufacturers adversely affected by free-trade agreements (FTAs).
The meeting will sketch out the guidelines for helping such enterprises. The Commerce Ministry formed the panel to organise a free trade fund in response to the private sector's call for the government to assist farmers and business owners that suffer as a result of FTAs. It is headed by the director-general of the Trade Negotiations Department, Chutima Bunyapraphasara. Chutima said she would seek opinions on drawing up funding guidelines in one or two months. The plan will focus on how to assist sectors adversely affected by bilateral and multilateral trade pacts. She said the ministry would seek Cabinet approval for giving financial support and other relief to affected sectors. "The committee will set a timetable to operate within 60 days of approval. The ministry hopes the work of the committee will clarify how the government can help affected sectors after conducting free-trade agreements," she said. The panel was set up by the Commerce Minister Krirkkrai Jirapaet last month. It will also be a central government unit for promoting the potential of local enterprises to compete with other countries. Besides finding assistance, the committee will also produce guidelines for the government when negotiating free-trade pacts. The guidelines will focus on what sectors Thailand should include or exclude under bilateral or multilateral trade pacts. In addition, Chutima said the panel would reconsider whether to move on bilateral trade negotiations with trading partners. "Following the government's economic policies, Thailand must carefully consider this issue," she said, adding that she would examine whether bilateral deals really benefit the Kingdom. Although some agreements have been almost finalised, such as the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement, the government must still review all the details to ensure that the country will benefit. Chutima also said those bilateral trade agreements which have already been finalised - such as with Australia, New Zealand, China and India - would also be investigated, to inform the decision on whether or not to expand the pacts.
Petchanet Pratruangkrai The Nation
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