Thailand and the European Union (EU) have agreed to restart negotiations over a free trade agreement, officials said on Thursday, nearly a decade after talks were stalled by a military coup in the Southeast Asian country.
Commerce Minister Jurin
Laksanawisit said after a meeting in Brussels with the EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis that the two sides aim to re-launch talks within the first quarter of this year.
Dombrovskis said on Twitter: “Both sides want a comprehensive, high-quality agreement, with ambitious sustainability provisions”.
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The EU suspended trade negotiations with Thailand in 2014 after a military coup headed by Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha ousted the civilian government, saying it would keep the bilateral relations under review.
Exports dip for third month in a row in December
Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy held general elections in 2019, after which the bloc broadened engagement again.
Thailand exports US$22.8 billion worth of goods to the EU, including auto parts, electrical equipment and agriculture products, government data shows, making the bloc its fourth-largest trading partner.
Source: Reuter
