BANGKOK, 19 July 2015 – Deputy Minister of Commerce Apiradi Tantraporn revealed outcomes of a special session of the latest Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Conference she attended recently that the ten member states and their six Free Trade Agreement partners put emphasis on liberalizing services and investment as well as initial offers for tariff elimination in goods and services.
The tariff elimination discussed involved both expected tariff cancellation and immediate tariff cancellation after joint agreement is in force.
Also discussed in the meeting was an effort to enforce a common practice of “Origin of Goods” among member states which are now using different practices.
The meeting sought the common practice of origin of goods as it would facilitate ASEAN traders including Thais to have fewer trade barriers and easily build production networks. This would draw more investors to Thailand and the rest member states of RCEP.
Important goods Thailand exports to RCEP countries are automobiles and parts, plastic granules, chemicals, computers and parts, as well as rubber and rubber-based products.
Apiradi said all of RCEP members insisted on finalizing their negotiation within this year as planned by leaders of RCEP.
