ISDS Case Map
Thailand
Thailand's 4,000 small tangerine farmers are expected to reduce their output almost by half, as they cannot compete with the tariff-free Chinese imports.
Dhanin Chearavanont, chairman of the Thailand's conglomerate Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, saya Thailand is gaining more from the FTA than China.
Thailand will not gain much from free trade agreements because of minimal exports between the agreeing parties, says Sethaput Suthiwart-narueput, an executive vice-president of Siam Commercial Bank.
Asean's zero-tariff implementation this year has created great investment opportunities between Thailand's biggest agro-conglomerate, the Charoen Pokphand Group, and Chinese investors with billions of US dollars to be spent on a range of projects.
Thai authorities are taking precautions to shield businesses and farmers from the fall in farm product prices after tariffs are cut under the Asean Free Trade Area (Afta) at the start of 2010.
Recently the Thai Commerce Minister visited Nigeria were he discussed the proposal of a Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement -- primarily involving agricultural development -- with the Nigerian Minister for Commerce and Industry.
Research group IBON called insensitive the Thai government’s demand to cut import tariffs on rice, especially since the country is still reeling from the recent typhoon disasters and its food security is threatened. It also highlights the dangers of entering into free trade agreements, which leaves the country no room to maneuver its policies on agriculture and industries.
“We demand the rights of the people, who are oppressed by the global trade war and join them in a fight for a more just society that consists of an economic system made up of fair trade, diverse socio-cultures, food sovereignty, human rights and a sustainable environment”
Enthused by the likely gains from the recently signed ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), India and Thailand are all set to expand their FTA pact beyond goods to new areas of services and investments with focus on further consolidating their economic ties.
A potential market of 1.3 billion people is a very attractive proposition for any government or company, and that was the main reason why six years ago the Thai government tried every means possible to expedite a trade deal with China.
