Memo: EU and Thailand launch negotiations for Free Trade Agreement

On 6 March 2013, European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, and the Thai Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, launched negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the European Union and Thailand. EU Trade Commissioner De Gucht and the Thai Minister of Commerce Boonsong had met the day before to formally agree on the start of negotiations.

The ambition is to conclude a comprehensive agreement covering tariffs, non-tariff barriers and other trade related issues, such as services, investment, procurement, regulatory issues, competition, and sustainable development.

The launch of FTA negotiations marks an important step in EU-Thai relations, already strengthened by a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The first negotiating round is expected to take place before the summer break.

Thailand is the EU's third largest trading partner inside ASEAN and the EU is Thailand’s third largest trading partner, trade between them in 2012 reaching nearly €32b.

• Primary Source

European Commission: Rapid: SPEECH/13/194: Statement by President Barroso following his meeting with Ms Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-194_en.htm

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