EU and Thailand resume talks for a free trade agreement
Negotiations for a free trade agreement between the European Union and Thailand began in 2013 and were suspended the following year after a coup
Thailand and the European Union announced Wednesday that they will resume talks for a free trade agreement, which seeks to benefit both parties.
The executive vice-president of the European Commission and head of Trade, Valdis Dombrovkis, showed his satisfaction regarding the relaunch of the negotiations.
“I warmly welcome the relaunch of negotiations with the second-largest economy in the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region,” Dombrovkis said in a video conference meeting with Thai Deputy Prime Minister Jurin Laksanawisit.
Negotiations began in 2012, but they did not advance much, since the following year there was a coup d’état by General Prayut Chan-ocha, who seized power.
Later in 2017, Thailand approved its current constitution, prompting EU countries to request that talks resume.
Considering that in the first half of 2023 Thailand will hold elections, the petition is of greater interest. “A modern and dynamic free trade agreement would lead to benefits for both parties and would strengthen the EU’s trade ties with the Indo-Pacific region,” according to Dombrovskis.
M.Pino
Source: swissinfo
(Reference image source: Carl Campbell, Unsplash)
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