Japan ready to resume free trade talks with Thailand

BANGKOK, September 22 (TNA) - Japan has called on Thailand to resume Thai-Japanese free trade negotiations under the framework of the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA). New Thai Deputy Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn told journalists on Monday that visiting Japanese First Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Daishiro Yamagiwa made the call during a meeting with her in Bangkok earlier in the day. Apiradi foresaw that the resumption of the JTEPA negotiations, which have been suspended for about five years due to unreadiness in both countries, should boost Thai-Japanese trade. Apiradi said that the visiting Japanese first vice minister of economy also called on Thailand's support for the resumption of trade negotiations under the ASEAN+6 framework in order to boost trade among countries in the grouping, which comprises ASEAN and the 10-member bloc's six dialogue partners, including China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand, focused on the facilitation on products and product origins. According to the deputy commerce minister, Thailand is ready to support the negotiations. The deputy commerce minister revealed that she told the visiting Japanese first vice minister of economy although the present Thai government did not come from a general election, the interim administration obeys laws and has clear guidelines to promote international investment in Thailand. The visiting Japanese first vice minister of economy later met Thai Deputy Prime Minister MR. Pridiyathorn Devakula, who oversees economic affairs, and Industry Minister Chakramon Phasukvanich, who is a former secretary-general of the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI). (TNA)