Department of Trade Negotiations Advances 8th Round of Thailand-EU Free Trade Agreement Negotiations

The Department of Trade Negotiations is moving forward with the Thailand-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, with the 8th round making continuous progress. Chotima Eiamsawatdicul, Director-General of the Department of International Trade Negotiations, revealed that Thailand hosted the 8th FTA negotiation round with the European Union from February 2-6, 2024, in Chiang Mai. The negotiations have made significant progress, reaching conclusions on three key chapters: 1) Trade remedies measures, 2) Exceptions to FTA measures including those protecting public health and national security, and 3) National treatment principles and goods trade market opening. Chotima noted that this round of negotiations, combined with previous progress, has now concluded 11 out of 24 total chapters. The next negotiation round is scheduled for June 2024, with the aim of completing the entire agreement this year. The FTA is considered crucial for expanding trade and investment opportunities, maintaining competitive capabilities, and aligning Thailand's trade regulations with global standards. As of 2024, the EU is Thailand's 4th largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at 45,033.47 million US dollars, representing a 3.44% increase from the previous year.