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US ambassador assures no change in Thailand policiesÂ
Bangkok Post – 11 November 2008
PHUSADEE ARUNMAS
The American ambassador to Thailand has affirmed that US trade policies involving Thailand will remain intact although US president-elect Barack Obama has vowed stricter measures on labour and environmental standards.
Washington pledged to maintain trade and investment relationships with Thailand which have lasted 175 years, according to Commerce Minister Chaiya Sasomsab, who met yesterday with Eric John, the US ambassador based in Bangkok.
In the meantime, Mr John urged the Thai government to launch roadshows in major US cities such as Washington DC and New York to restore confidence both in trade and investment among US investors.
"Although the US is currently reeling from the financial crisis, it offers great potential for Thailand," said Mr John. "American investors are currently outsourcing manufacturing of a wide range of products such as garments."
Mr John also assured that the protracted rallies by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which has occupied Government House since Aug 26, were not a threat, as Thailand basically had a democratically elected administration.
He also urged Thailand to continue tackling piracy.
Under the Republican President George W. Bush, the US has been pushing for a free trade agreement with Thailand and has strongly criticised the country for intellectual property rights violations, which eventually led Washington to put Thailand on its Priority Watch List (PWL).
But under Mr Obama's leadership, some local critics foresee an even tougher stance. Labour standards, environmental issues and intellectual property rights would be Washington's focus when dealing with other countries, said Pornsil Patchrintanakul, the deputy secretary-general of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
Some obstacles are also expected in the Thai-US free trade talks, given that Mr Obama appears reluctant to support the free trade idea, he said recently.
Thailand enjoyed a trade surplus of $9.7 billion last year with the US on bilateral trade valued at $28.7 billion, representing 9.8% of its total trade.
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