Thai commerce minister to visit US

BANGKOK, April 18 (TNA) - Thai Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn will visit the United States later this month to attend a US-Thailand trade ministerial meeting during April 20–22. Apiradi told journalists on Monday that she will lead a Thai delegation to attend the upcoming US-Thailand trade ministerial meeting, during which she plans to confer with authorities of the US Trade Representative Office (USTR) on Thailand's actions against intellectural property rights (IPR) violation. Apiradi stated that Thailand has been placed on Washington’s Priority Watch List (PWL) for the past nine years and the Thai government needs to clarify and provide sufficient information on its relentless efforts to crack down on IPR violators so that Thailand would be removed from Washington's PWL. Apiradi said the US government has informed that it has not received information and results on the Thai government's crackdowns on IPR violation and amendment on relevant laws. Acknowledging that the Thai government is to inform results on its suppression against IPR infringement in every step in the future, stressing that the incumbent Thai government is serious on suppressing IPR violators in the country. According to the commerce minister, she will also take the opportunity to inquire about the progress of Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and what conditions are if Thailand decides to join TPP. "The Thai government needs to study carefully on the advantages and disadvantages if the country joins TPP", the commerce minister noted. (TNA)