BANGKOK- Thailand is always welcomed to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, commented United States Ambassador to Thailand Glyn T. Davies.
Mr Davies said the U.S. and Thailand have been close allies for nine generations while Thailand has always played a key role in the Southeast Asian region in all dimensions; involving political, security, economic and social matters.
Besides, he said, Thailand has helped with the strengthening of relationships between the U.S. and ASEAN. He assured that the U.S. has preferred to strengthen and broaden such international relationships and cooperation.
Meanwhile, he commented that close relationships between Thailand and China are a good thing which would not affect the Thai-U.S. time-honored relations.
The U.S. envoy pointed out that the Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP is a top-priority agreement concerning a relatively wide range of issues such as labor, environment and intellectual property, among others.
He said Thailand is always welcomed to join TPP as one of the participating countries if this country has clearly understood all restrictions. Moreover, he said, Thailand will have full opportunity to negotiate with TPP member countries.
However, Mr. Davies emphasized that TPP is not an American club and that the U.S. is just one of the associated countries. He added that some might probably mistake it as a geo-political group and that its rules which are yet to be laid out will be announced by December 12, 2015.
