Exporters can apply for Canada’s GPT privileges until end of 2014

BANGKOK, December 27 (TNA) The Ministry of Commerce says that Thai exporters will enjoy Canada’s trade privilege under its General Preferential Tariff (GPT) until December 31, 2014. Duangporn Lodphayad, Director-General of the ministry's Department of Foreign Trade, told journalists on Saturday (Dec 27) that Canada has earlier announced that the Northern American nation will relinquish its GPT, known as the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) if offered by the United States, at the end of this year. Canada's GPT has, so far, offered to 72 overseas trading partners, including Thailand. Duangporn suggested that Thai exporters, thus, ship their goods to Canada before the New Year’s Day in order to enjoy GPT. Duangporn opined that the withdrawal of Canada’s GPT should considerably affect Thai exporters, recommending that they, therefore, further develop their products in order to maintain their market share overseas. According to the senior official, Thai exporters can still enjoy tariffs reduction if a free trade agreement between Canada and Thailand is enforced in the future. (TNA)