Speaking at a seminar organised by the National Economic and Social Advisory Council yesterday, Piyanuch Malakul na Ayutthaya, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce's International Trade Rules Committee, said that while she supported the signing of the agreement, the government should speed up the process of communicating with the public because of remaining doubts about the FTA among various non-government groups.

"The government should make the 900-page draft text available to the public," she said.

Piyanuch added that the government should also look into the issue of rules of origin, which will stipulate whether products are entitled to lower tariffs under the FTA. For instance, tight rules of origin may prevent Thai exporters from selling fishery products made from fish caught outside Thai territorial waters.

Bangkok and Tokyo wrapped up free-trade talks in 2005, but the signing of the agreement was delayed after the ousting of prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra last September 19.

Pisan Manawapat, deputy permanent secretary of the Foreign Ministry, said the ministry had already submitted a recommendation to the National Legislative Assembly for approval of the FTA. However, he was unable to say when the agreement would be signed.

"Further delay could be at the expense of the country, because Japan is also making agreements with others in the region," he said.

Saree Ongsomwang, secretary-general of the Consumers Organisation, an NGO group, said she was worried about a brain drain as a result of medical service liberalisation under the proposed pact. A number of physicians may be prompted to leave public hospitals to work in private hospitals which target foreign patients, as more Japanese would likely come to the Kingdom for treatment.

She said medical treatment fees in Thailand were 70 per cent cheaper than Japan's.

The income of physicians in public hospitals is about Bt80,000 a month, compared to Bt200,000 in private hospitals.

Sukran Chotipaiwong, a representative from an environmental group, warned of the possibility that Japanese industries might dump their industrial waste in Thailand because of the agreement.

She said the agreement included used parts and used industrial goods that might be recycled in Thailand, but some Japanese industries might use this as a loophole for dumping waste here.

Somkiat Tangkitvanich, research director of the Thailand Development Research Institute, said the agreement should be beneficial for Thailand. Addressing the concerns of the NGO, he said Thailand had a law to prevent the dumping of waste.

He said the government should meanwhile urge Tokyo to open up their market for Thai agricultural products such as sugar and chicken.

Somkiat added that even after the enforcement of the FTA, the agreement provided for future amendments to address the concerns of both sides.

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation