Thai Commerce Minister to ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting in Manila

NONTHABURI, Sept 4 (TNA) -- The commerce minister will attend the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM) in the Philippines on Sept 6-11. On the occasion, ASEAN members and six dialogue partners will discuss tariff issues and find solutions for the ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in November. Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said she would attend the AEM in Manila to help develop the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), especially the AEC Blueprint 2025, to facilitate trade within the grouping. She will acknowledge important documents including those concerning ASEAN electronic commerce, indicators of ASEAN’s trade facilitation, consumer protection, business registration and ASEAN’s inclusive business framework. In the meetings of ASEAN and six other countries that are dialogue partners, Ms Apiradi said participants would push for progress in negotiations about the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) that would stimulate the global economy in place of the stalled Trans-Pacific Partnership. They would discuss 0% tariffs for at least 90% of product items as some countries proposed the measure for less than 80% of their product items, she said. (TNA)