Nitya told some 30 business executives at the Nippon Keidan-ren that some members of the National Legislative Assembly - along with academics and non-government groups in Thailand - were concerned about the issues of toxic waste and micro-organism patents in the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership (JTEPA).

But despite the concerns, Thailand would not reopen talks on those issues, he said.

"We merely ask Japan to put our common understanding reached during the negotiations into words in the relevant paragraphs of the text, so that it can never be misinterpreted by anyone," Nitya said.

"I believe it is in our mutual interest that the JTEPA does not encounter protest or public disagreement before or after the signing," he said.

Nitya was in Tokyo for four days to mark the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations of Thailand and Japan and to make preparations for an official visit of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, tentatively in the spring.

There would be no better testimony to the anniversary of the relationship than the signing of the trade deal this year, he said.

Civic groups in Thailand have raised concern that the JTEPA would allow Japan to dump hazardous waste and patent micro-organisms in the kingdom.

Article 28 of the draft on originating goods defines items that can no longer perform their original purpose and are only fit for disposal or for the recovery of parts or raw materials as "goods".

Article 130 on patents says: "Each party shall ensure that any patent application shall not be rejected solely on the grounds that the subject matter claimed in the application is related to a naturally occurring micro-organism."

Thai negotiating chief Pisan Manawapat said that no party could use the two articles as loopholes to dump toxic waste or patent micro-organisms.

The JTEPA talked about import duty on used items that Thailand has already traded with Japan. If any items could be deemed as toxic waste, the Industry Ministry would not allow it, he said.

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

Tokyo