Bangkok: Weerapong Prapha, Thailand's Trade Representative, revealed progress on the Thailand-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), stating that eight issues have been finalized and that Thailand is preparing to host the 10th round of negotiations at the end of September. He emphasized the importance of protecting the interests of farmers and SMEs, and pointed out that both sides must agree on a suitable landing zone during negotiations with the EU.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Veerapong Prapha stated that the ninth round of negotiations concluded with satisfactory results. Eight issues were finalized, representing more than two-thirds of the overall negotiation progress. A key factor contributing to the strong political will is reflected in the high-level representatives' meetings with the EU's Trade and Agriculture Commissions, which provided impetus for further negotiations.
For the next steps, Thailand is preparing to host the 10th round of negotiations at the end of September. Prior to this meeting, two key areas of preparation have been outlined: internal preparation, where all relevant ministries must collaboratively define the country's position, clearly outlining which issues are flexible and which key interests must be preserved; and joint discussions with the EU, which will involve continuous intersessional meetings to identify common ground or "landing zones" for the remaining chapters, ensuring the 10th round of negotiations is as prepared and effective as possible.
The remaining six main clusters, which are large and sensitive, include agricultural products, industrial products, digital trade, rules and regulations, and government procurement.
Mr. Weerapong confirmed that the government aims to expedite negotiations to reach a conclusion within this year. However, the most important thing is to maintain a balance between speed and quality in the negotiations. Thailand will maintain a clear stance in protecting the interests of the people, farmers, and SMEs, as well as ensuring that various standards, such as those for medicines and animal products, meet international standards and do not conflict with domestic laws, so that Thais can receive maximum benefit from this FTA.