EU and Thailand conclude second round of negotiations for a Comprehensive FTA
Thailand Chiang Mai, 16-20 September 2013
Joint Statement
The second round of the Thailand-EU negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) was held from 16-20 September in Chiangmai, Thailand. The second round of negotiations follows up on the work done at the first round which took place in Brussels and intersessionally. Both sides aim to conclude as fast as possible.
On the Thai side, the delegation was chaired by Dr Olarn Chaipravat, President of Thailand Trade Representative Office, and on the EU side by Deputy Director-General Joao Aguiar Machado, European Commission, Directorate-General for Trade.
During the round, negotiation teams discussed a wide range of issues which include goods, rules of origin, services and investment, public procurement, intellectual property, trade remedies and trade and sustainable development. The discussions helped both sides better understand the proposed draft texts submitted by both sides and form an important foundation for the next round of negotiations which will be text-based.
On Intellectual property both sides agree that appropriate IPR protection can and should co-exist effectively with access to medicines. While parties are at the very beginning of the negotiation process, the EU and Thailand agree on the need to look at solutions serving the purpose of IPR protection and access to medicines at the same time and equally effectively. The EU and Thailand also agree on the importance of negotiating an ambitious chapter on trade and sustainable development.
Prior to the next round of negotiations, both sides aim to set out parameters for modalities for goods and exchange requests for services, investment and procurement.
Both sides agreed that Technical Cooperation will support the commitments of the FTA.
The next round of negotiations will be held in Brussels from 9-13 December 2013.
The negotiations were officially launched on 6 March 2013 by President Barroso, European Commission President, and the Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The EU is Thailand’s third largest trading partner and Thailand is the EU’s third largest trading partner inside ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations). Trade between the EU and Thailand reached nearly 32 billion euros in 2012. The EU is one of the largest foreign investors in Thailand.
More information
Read the joint statement of the first round (31 May 2013)
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