Bangkok to host US delegation
Thailand will host the first official bilateral trade discussion with the US under the Trump administration, hopeful it will lead to stronger trade relations between the two countries.
The meeting is under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Joint Council (TIFA JC) and is scheduled for April 3 in Bangkok.
The US delegation will be led by trade representative Barbara Weisel, while Thailand will send Boonyarit Kalayanamit, director-general of the Trade Negotiation Department.
“This meeting is important because the new president has come up with totally different trade policies, with a focus on protectionism,” Mr Boonyarit said. “If we know each other’s positions, we can set a policy stance that most benefits our country.”
He said the meeting is a good opportunity for both countries to strengthen their collaboration as strategic partners through bilateral agreements, both government-to-government and private-to-private, especially in innovation.
Topics at the meeting will cover trade, investment, human resources development and industrial innovation.
“These are focal areas where the government wants to drive the economy,” Mr Boonyarit said. “A few projects have already started development, and if we can reach agreement some of these deals might help us accelerate the development of innovationrelated industries.”
Thailand is seeking strategic partners to help accelerate its technology and innovation development to drive the country’s mission to transform to a 4.0 economy.
“The US has such advanced technology in several industries, maybe it could share with us if we can reach a deal,” Mr Boonyarit said. “We look forward to learning more to develop our industrial supply chains to improve our competitiveness.”
Thailand will also ask the US for further Generalised Scheme of Preferences treatment for travel goods, one of the country’s highest potential export goods in the US market.
The US is expected to press on intellectual property violations, labour rights and illegal ivory trade under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species agreement.