NLA urged to endorse Thai-Japan trade agreement
Commerce Minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet Thursday urged the National Legislative Assembly to pass the bilateral trade agreement between Thailand and Japan.
Speaking at the NLS meeting to debate the trade pact, Krirk-krai said that the FTA consideration was an urgent issue. He told the audience including Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont.
He said that failing to sign an agreement, Thailand would lose the competitiveness to other Asean countries which already had the bilateral agreements with Japan.
"We cannot wait for countries to open up the market under the Doha Round of trade negotiation under World Trade Organisation (WTO), which progressed very slow," he said.
Krirk-krai said that although some critics said this interim government should wait for the elected government to decide on the agreement. However, he said that the government couldn't wait.
"We have to look at least three issues: the competition in the world market, the economic necessity and the desire of the country to upgrade trade and development," he said.
Japan is the second most active export market for Thailand and the biggest foreign investor in Thailand. Twelve per cent of the total Thai export worth Bt130 billilion went to Japan. On the other hand, Thailand imported Bt26 billion a year. Forty per cent of Thailand's food exports to Japan. Around one-fifth of foreign investment in Thailand came from Japanese.
"We rely on Japan more than Japan rely on Thailand," he said.
Pramon Sutheewong, representing the Board of Trade of Thailand, also voiced supports for the agreement. He said that the agreement covers the other co-operation not just trade.
Bangkok and Tokyo started negotiating the agreement five years ago until they wrapped up the talks in 2005. However, the signing was delayed from last year due to the House Dissolution.
The Nation
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