Problem grows over effect on FTA negotiations.
PUBLISHED: 28 Mar 2025 at 05: 17
Working with the unusual and business departments, the Committee on Economic Development is looking into the effects of the government’s imprisonment of Uyghurs in the context of EU free trade agreements.
Représentants from both ministries, affiliated private companies, the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC ) and the Federation of Thai SMEs attended a meeting on Thursday to discuss the matter.
Prior to the meeting, Sittiphol Viboonthanakul, a People’s Party ( PP ) list-MP and committee chairman, stated that the deportations would have an impact on Thailand’s international trade dynamics because the EU had condemned the government’s actions. The extent of the effect is not yet known.
He added that it was necessary to assess whether this circumstance might prevent Thailand from signing a free trade agreement (FTA ) with the EU, which is anticipated later this year, and whether it would have an impact on its ongoing efforts to join the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD ). He added that the conversation had address issues with US industry policies, such as potential higher taxes on Thai exports.
When questioned about whether the government’s proposal to Western ambassadors would help to lessen the effects, Mr. Sittiphol stated that the government would do everything in its power to minimize the impact.
He also emphasized the need for the government to create a strategy to combat trade wars and the potential repercussions if the Thailand-EU FTA is never signed as planned this year.
During the conference, TCC members reportedly claimed that Thailand has consistently adhered to international human rights requirements.
They cited Thailand’s efforts over the past ten years to address global issues like illegal, unidentified, and unrestricted ( IUU) fishing issues.
Additionally, according to the representatives, the Uyghur repatriation situation was not a major source of concern in recent discussions with foreign financial organizations.
Persecution are a popular practice worldwide, they added, citing instances like these in the US and Europe.
They argued that the FTA negotiations should certainly address this subject.