Bangkok, March 27 (NNN-TNA) Thailand's cabinet Tuesday endorsed a free trade agreement with Japan, a major step before Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont is scheduled to fly to Tokyo to sign the pact next
week, a senior government official said.
Pisan Manawapat, chief negotiator for the Japan-Thai Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA), told journalists that Prime Minister Surayud will sign the agreement next Monday at the start of his official visit to Japan.
Although both sides wrapped up talks on the JTEPA early last year, the signing was delayed because of the political turmoil in Thailand that led to the September 19 military coup.
Japan is Thailand's biggest foreign investor and an important export market for Thai products with trade between the two countries valued at 1.65 trillion baht (US$44.1 billion) between January-December 2006.
Environmental and anti-JTEPA campaigners warned Thailand that the draft agreement with Japan could pave the way for dumping of toxic waste and hazardous chemicals in the country.
The anti-free trade pact activists also expressed serious concern over Thailand's intellectual property rights regarding micro-organisms.
Virachai Plasai, Director-General of International Economic Affairs of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brushed aside the activists' concerns, saying that the two countries as signatories of BASEL Convention (on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal) are bound to comply to its obligations.
The Japan-Thai agreement, he said, will not allow illegal movement of toxic waste to the signatory without consent.
Mr. Virachai trumpeted the accord as a vehicle to boost trade and investment during the coming next 5-10 years. "It will be a boon for Thai agricutural exports, as well as for the auto industry and skilled labour," he said.
Thai Commerce Minister Krirkkrai Jirapaet said on Monday that the draft JTEPA had been scrutinised thoroughly for many years to ensure mutual benefits to both countries. He also expressed confidence that
the accord would give a major boost to Thai exports to Japan.
However, opponents of the agreement criticised the government for not making its terms public.