New public-private panels to monitor NTBs, ensure

The government and the private sector Monday agreed to set up two special committees to promote the Kingdom's exports, in response to the rising level of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) amid a slowdown of trade growth, in particular in the European market.

One of the committees will follow up on the soon-to-be-started free-trade agreement talks between Thailand and the European Union.

The panel will include representatives from the government, the private sector and the social sector, who will aim to ensure there are fair benefits for all parts of society under a Thailand-EU FTA. The other panel will monitor NTBs, so that the business sector is aware of and can react quickly to any unexpected new barriers that emerge.

After chairing a meeting between the Commerce Ministry and the Board of Trade of Thailand, Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom said the special panels would consider how to promote exports in the highly highly competitive environment expected under a Thailand-EU FTA, and how to cope with the rising level of NTBs, which are both major concerns for Thai traders.

THE NATION