Thailand in Regional and Bilateral Free Trade Agreements

Abstract

The Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) and the bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) have increasingly been a new wave of international trade around the world. The countries who seek to establish these agreements, be regionally or bilaterally, realize that the trade agreements are in fact tools to increase trade with their trading partners, to extend and expand their foreign markets, as well as to encourage foreign investments but the overall goal is to strengthen economic tie with the trading partners. Thailand is considered a young and new player in free trade agreements. Given the fact that Thai government's trade policy has been quite ambitious and proactive, Thailand has constantly attempted to establish free trade agreements with its important partners around the world. Regarding Thailand's strong support in export-oriented economy, seeking a greater access to foreign markets through free trade agreements is in fact the country's first priority. Thailand's commitment on regional trade agreement under ASEAN Free Trade Area, and bilateral Free Trade Agreements under TAFTA and JTEPA has provided considerable benefits for Thai economy mainly through an increase in export as well as impor. Moreover, the FTAs have proved to increase competitiveness on Thai products which results in an increase of market...