ISDS Case Map
Thailand
In what is believed to be the first ever human rights impact assessment of a US FTA conducted at national level, the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand in a draft report concludes that the FTA that Thailand has been negotiating with the United States will violate the human rights of Thai people and affect the country's sovereignty.
The Cabinet gave a greenlight to the proposed Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) Tuesday, paving the way for the bill to be sent to the National Legislative Assembly for further scrutiny.
Greenpeace activists appealed to Tokyo yesterday to terminate a clause in the Thai-Japanese free trade agreement (FTA) which makes it easier for Japan to export toxic waste to Thailand. Under the FTA, tariffs on waste will be eliminated to help Japan's waste exporters, the environmental group said.
Thailand remained with a deficit of more than Bt1.7 billion (about US$46.6 million) in trade with China under the ASEAN-Sino Free Trade Area (FTA) agreement during the first nine months of this year, according to the Foreign Trade Department.
Despite criticism over its possible negative impacts, the Thai government plans to proceed with the Thai-Japanese Free Trade Area agreement, saying the pact would likely be signed before this interim government's term expires.
The Thai Foreign Ministry's plan for cabinet acknowledgement today of the proposed free trade deal with Japan has raised questions from critics, including the National Economic and Social Council, which called for adequate information and time for the people and the country's legislative body to study its impact.
In a bid to secure a smooth passage for a public hearing on the Thai-Japanese free trade agreement, the Thai Foreign Ministry yesterday allowed a group of critics to gain access to the text of the controversial deal.
This study examines the impacts of TRIPS-plus rules on pharmaceutical patents as enshrined in US FTAs by looking at the case of Thailand.
This week, the Thai Foreign Ministry is expected to ask the Cabinet to consider whether to approve the draft Thai-Japanese free trade agreement (FTA). Inevitably, questions will crop up regarding the legitimacy of an interim government and a non-elected people's assembly to pass an international trade agreement.
Thai shrimpers yesterday submitted a letter to protest against Australia's ban on shrimp imports even before its import risk analysis is completed. Viewing the move as unfair, Thai officials will also discuss the issue at a forum on the Thailand-Australia free trade agreement next week.
