REPRESENTATIVES from Thailand and China are open to starting talks for a free trade deal in the next few weeks.
Open negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) could start as early as May 9 while follow-up talks with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) could start within 3 months.
The agreement aims to boost export competitiveness in Middle Eastern countries.
Bilateral trade between Thailand and the UAE totaled around 700 billion baht annually.
Moreover, Thailand’s Commerce Minister aims to get export tariff exemption from the 6 members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, namely Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain.
Thailand currently has 14 FTA with 18 countries but the numbers could still rise to 46 if the new FTA with 27 European Union countries and the UAE will materialize.
