BANGKOK, 9 January 2013 The Department of Trade Negotiations (DTN) is planning to develop close ties with the private sector and a better negotiation strategy for the benefit of Thai export this year.
According to Mrs. Piramol Charoenpao, Director-General of the DTN, the upcoming formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) has prompted the department to set up a new service center, called the Excellent Center, to provide consultancy and analysis on the regional investment to Thai investors as part of the goal to transform Thailand into the gateway to ASEAN.
Mrs. Piramol added that the center has received great support from private operators, who have offered to lend a helping hand to the DTN to eliminate non-tariff barriers against Thai export products. She stressed that Thailand will adopt countermeasures against the barriers and will make sure that all trade agreements made with trade partners will be acted upon quickly.
The Director-General said during a meeting with the Federation of Thai Industries, it was found that several products from Thailand were still being charged a higher tariff rate than items from other countries. Mrs. Piramol, therefore, affirmed that efforts will be made through negotiations to have those importing nations lower the tariff to a reasonable level.
