Surapong to submit progress report on human trafficking to US

Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul will Friday submit a report to the US on Thailand's progress in curbing human trafficking in the hope it will prevent Thailand falling to the lowest, Tier-3, ranking in the 2013 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. A drop from last year's ranking of 2.5 could affect Thai exports to the US.

Surapong will submit the report on implementing Thailand's anti-human trafficking plan 2012 via US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, then discuss with her the TIP Report 2013 and affirm Thailand's determination to curb human trafficking.

Thailand has been on the Tier 2 watch list for the last three years and as such risks being relegated to the third tier, of "countries whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so". Such a relegation would likely hit Thai exports to the US, especially of frozen fish and shrimp.

The Nation