EU SEEKS RESTART FO FTA TALKS

       The European Union is ready to move ahead on negotiations for a free trade agreement with Thailand as one of the gateways to Asean, the EU ambassador said yesterday.
       David Lipman, head of the European Commission's delegation to Thailand, said the EU is now waiting for the Thai government to reopen discussions after the Asean-EU FTA talks were suspended.
       Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai said the Thai government also sees the EU and Efta countries as major markets for enhancing trade and investment.
       The Efta bloc comprises Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
       "The feasibility study proved that the FTA will create benefits for Asean and EU member states, while the bilateral negotiation is good and constructive. However, the Thai government needs some time to carefully consider all the impacts resulting from the FTA," she said.
       "Also, we must ensure that the talks must not only cover trade in goods, services and investment, but also some difficult issues such as food safety, and regulations for ensuring market access after the liberalisation," she said during the opening of the two-day Thai-EU Forum in Muang Thong Thani.
       Jingjai Hanchanlash, chairman of the Thai-EU Business Council, said Thailand should proceed with its dialogue with the EU, otherwise the EU might shift its focus to other Asean countries.
       Singapore will include agricultural products in its negotiations with the EU. In the future, Thailand might have to redirect its farm exports to the EU via Singapore, he said.
       As the EU is the Kingdom's second largest export market, sales to the EU should increase significantly following the lowering of tariff barriers. Thailand's trade surplus with the EU is expected to increase by 20-25 per cent from now, he said.
       Nandor von der Luehe , president of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand, said businessmen fully support the talks between Thailand and the EU in view of the tangible advantages from liberalisation.
       Swiss Ambassador Christine Schraner Burgener said that besides the EU-Thailand FTA, four European countries also want to resume talks on Efta that have been stalled since 2006.