JTEPA reviewed after first decade

BANGKOK, May 2 (TNA) - Japanese and Thai authorities are reviewing the Japan–Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA), after the free trade accord between Tokyo and Bangkok has been implemented for a decade. Winaroj Sapsongsuk, Secretary-General of the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), under the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, told journalists of the update on May 1, saying that discussions on the review were included at last month's meetings of JTEPA sub-committees on merchandise trade and on the rule of origin, headed by the Ministry of Commerce's Department of Trade Negotiations and the Ministry of Finance's Customs Department respectively for the Thai side. Winaroj stated that during the discussions, Thai delegates, including those from his office, proposed that Japan increase the import quota for processed pork products from Bangkok, which are free and safe from chemical enhancing agents and the reference of customs tariff rates be updated to the year 2017, from the year 2002. Winaroj revealed that the Thai delegation also proposed that Tokyo consider to increase more Thai items of products in its import quota list, which, if finally approved, will boost and sustain exports of Thai farm products to the Japanese market in the long run. Besides, the Thai delegation called for a revision of customs practices under the JTEPA to be updated and in line with the World Customs Organization (WCO). According to the senior official, Japan is Thailand's third largest trading partner for farm products, with bilateral trade on agricultural products during 2015-2017 accounting for 9.59 per cent of the Thai Kingdom's total trade on farm produce on the world market. The senior official reported that bilateral trade on farm products between Japan and Thailand stood at about 158 billion baht in 2015 and kept rising to about 164 billion baht and about 173 billion baht in 2016 and 2017 respectively, with the Thai side having enjoyed the trade surplus over the past three years. The senior official pointed out that major exports of Thai farm products to Japan include frozen and processed chicken, pet feed and smoked rubber sheets, while major imports of Japanese farm products to Thailand mainly include frozen fish of many varieties. (TNA)