ISDS Case Map
Thailand
The Thai and Japanese governments yesterday ironed out the last details before the free trade agreement takes effect on November 1. FTA Watch member Jacquechai Chomthongdi said the activist group would bring the case to the Constitutional Court as the new Thai constitution requires transparent consideration of all international treaties, including the trade deal signed with Japan.
Japanese civil and consumer rights groups have thrown their support behind the Thai anti-FTA movement by petitioning their own government not to rush into signing the Thai-Japan free trade agreement with the interim Surayud Chulanont administration.
The Thai government has decided to conduct an exchange of diplomatic notes with the Japanese government on 2 October 2007, which will put the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) into effect within 30 days without bringing the matter under the scrutiny of the National Legislative Assembly. Prime Minister Surayut Chulanont defiantly announced that he would resign if ever a petition was made to the Constitutional Court and his decision proved to be in violation of the constitution.
Thailand's Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont should think carefully before effecting the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) on November 1 without legislative body approval because such an action could violate the constitution, according to the FTA Watch group.
India and Thailand plan to finally sign a free-trade agreement by the end of this year, which could bring an end to talks that have dragged on for years
Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras said the Japan Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) will help boost Thailand's business potential but Japan's investment in Thailand will fall.
Filmed in Thailand and The Philippines in July 2007, Squeezed tells the story of how free trade agreements and globalisation are changing the lives of millions of people living in the Asia-Pacific region.
Thailand has found a way to settle a dispute over rice with South Korea, allowing it to eventually join a free-trade deal between fellow Southeast Asian countries and Seoul, officials said Thursday.
Article 190 of Thailand's junta-sponsored draft constitution deals with six paragraphs on FTAs. On the surface, they appear to be a triumph for anti-FTA groups such as FTA Watch. There's a catch, however.
"The talks might be called a Closer Economic Partnership Agreement as the European Union wants the agreement as a comprehensive package which will cover not only trade, but also services and investment," Thailand's chief negotiator said.
