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Welcome to TUSBC

The Thailand - U.S. Business Council (TUSBC) is Thailand's leading organization dedicated to assisting Thai companies do business in the United States. The Council facilitates bi-lateral trade and investment between Thailand and United States. We aim to provide our members with useful information and contacts, and communicate business opportunities from both countries to and from our members.

TUSBC is widely recognized and respected at the highest level of both the Thai and United States governments. The Council organizes many useful high level business events with trade and finance related government ministers as well as top-level policy makers from both countries. TUSBC members are drawn from all major sectors of the Thai economy, including manufacturing, transportation, agri-food, telecommunications, information technology, financial services, energy, and construction.

What's New

Headlines:

Oct. 5'09 :INZTA:Welcome to the updated website for the Ireland New Zealand Trade Association (INZTA).http://inzta.com/.

Sep. 2'04 :THAI ECONOMY CONTINUES TO GROW IN JULY, BUT AT SLOWER PACE.:Welcome to the updated website for the Ireland New Zealand Trade Association (INZTA). click here.

Aug. 31'04 :WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION DECISION ON BYRD AMENDMENT:Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today made the following comment on today's news that the European Union, Canada, Japan, India, Brazil, Mexico, Chile and South Korea have received authorization from the World Trade Organization to retaliate against the United States ...click here.

Aug. 27 '04 :Thailand's FedEx: Free trade agreement with U.S. opens opportunities:The prospect of a bilateral free trade area (FTA) agreement between Thailand and the United States will open new opportunities for Thai businesses as well as express providers, according to Peter Yin click here.

Aug. 26 '04 :MAJOR THAI BANKS FUND REGIONAL EXPANSION OF THAILAND'S LARGEST PRIVATE COAL PRODUCER:A consortium of Thai banks is assisting the Thai energy company Banpu PLC to expand its operations in South East Asia. click here.

Aug. 24 '04 :Philippines to lodge WTO complaint vs Thailand over auto import tax - report:Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar Purisima said the government is preparing to lodge a complaint against Thailand with the World Trade Organization (WTO) for imposing punitive excise tax on imported motor vehicles, Today newspaper reported. click here.

Aug. 22 '04 :Asia's fuel subsidies under fire as oil prices skyrocket: As Asia grapples with global oil prices racing towards 50 usd a barrel, several governments in the region are facing unmanageable costs of fuel subsidies that analysts say could put economies at further risk, Agence France-Presse reported. click here.

Aug. 20 '04 :US REPORT TAKES ASIAN ECONOMIES TO TASK:- China and Japan, among America's biggest trading partners, attracted long a detailed criticism in the annual review, titled the "National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers." click here.

Aug. 20 '04 :INCREASE IN RICE ORDERS:Rice exports for July hit a record-high of 997,000 tonnes, worth US $ 270 million (about Bt11 billion, RMB 2,235 million), due to higher demand. Rice importing countries are placing more orders with Thailand amid fears of further price increases in the near future. click here.

Aug. 20 '04 :SHRIMP EXPORTS: CP FOODS BULLISH ON US OUTLOOK:Charoen Pokphand Foods Plc expects to double its profit from shrimp exports next year now that the US Commerce Department has decided to slap a lower dumping duties on Thai shrimp... click here.

Aug. 18 '04 :EXIM THAILAND AND MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY HOLD "THAI AUTO PARTS 2005 : MARKET OPPORTUNITIES" SEMINAR:Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM Thailand), in cooperation with Ministry of Industry, Institute for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ISMED), Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP), and Thailand Automotive Institute, holds a seminar "Thai Auto Parts 2005 : Market Opportunities" for automobile and parts SME entrepreneurs, on September 8, 2004, at Gymnasium 1, Thammasat University, Rangsit. To read the entire article please click here.

Aug. 11 '04 :TFU Q2 EARNINGS RISE 67% ON HIGHER SALES FROM SUBSIDIARIES:Thai Union Frozen Products (TFU) Plc, one of the world's largest producer of tuna, announced yesterday that net profits for the second quarter stood at 527.5 million baht, up 67 percent quarter-on-quarter, and boosted by a 14 percent rise in sales volume and contributions from US-based subsidiaries.click here.

Aug. 10 '04 :BOT LOWERS FORECAST:The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has downgraded its GDP growth forecast for 2004 to 6 to 7 per cent from 6.8 to 7.8 per cent, based on higher inflationary pressure.click here.

Aug. 10 '04 :RICE EXPORTS SURGE 73% IN VALUE IN JULY:Thailand, the world's biggest rice exporter, reported yesterday that overseas sales of rice rose by 46 percent in July to record levels, boosted by demand from African countries. click here.

Aug. 09 '04 :CHINA-ASEAN AGRO TRADE ON FAST TRACK:x The trade of agricultural produce between China and her ASEAN neighbors has benefitted from an early-harvest programme that was put in place beginning this year. click here.

Aug. 04 '04 :THAI-US FINANCIAL LIBERALIZATION: PRELUDE FOR CHANGE IN FINANCIAL INSTITUTION SYSTEM: The first round of negotiations for financial liberalization between Thailand and the US kicked off in June this year. The US negotiators have raised many points for discussion with their Thai counterparts. click here.

Aug. 03 '04 :US SHRIMP TARIFFS FAVOUR THAILAND:Thai shrimp exports will likely increase by about 15 percent to 150,000 tonnes this year, after concerns were eased when the US government imposed the lower-than-expected tariff rate on Thai shrimps. click here.

Aug. 02 '04 :Roadmap needed to address Thailand's intellectual property issues: Thailand needs a road map for the future development and protection of intellectual property, according to Kanissorn Navanugraha, the director-general of the Intellectual Property Department. click here.

Aug. 02 '04 :THAI GARMENTS IN USA: FALLING MARKET SHARE:Garment exports from Thailand will likely continue to grow in the latter half 2004, thanks to favorable growth in the world economy, thereby resulting in rising orders for Thai garments from major trade partners. click here.

Press Release:

Nov. 19 '03 — In line with President George W. Bush's formal announcement of his intention to launch negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) with Thailand last month, a new website providing information about the agreement and its developments has been launched. ... For the full version of the press release please click here.

WHAT'S NEW ARCHIVE

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Thailand - U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Reading Room

Last updated September 3
(Updated Every Friday)

Welcome to the Thailand - U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Reading Room. The introduction of the "FTA Reading Room" has been timed to coincide with President George W. Bush's formal announcement of his intention to launch negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement with Thailand (Before official negotiations can start, the Administration will have to formally consult with the U.S. Congress, pursuant to U.S. Trade Promotion Authority enacted in 2002.)

The site, which is managed and sponsored by the Thailand - U.S. Business Council will include featured news headlines about the Agreement and its developments, in addition to providing access to relevant papers, press releases and interviews. Our objective is to make this website the most comprehensive source of information on the Thailand - U.S. FTA on-line.

The FTA Reading Room is one of many activites sponsored by the Thailand - U.S. Business Council aimed at increasing awareness among the Thai private sector and the general public about the FTA between Thailand and the U.S. In addition to this on-line resource, TUSBC has organized seminars, briefings and has co-sponsored a study undertaken by the Thailand Development and Research Institute (TDRI) on the Impacts of the Thailand - U.S. FTA.

For any comments or recommendation s regarding the Thailand - U.S. Business Council's FTA Reading Room or to receive information about other FTA-related activities sponsored by TUSBC, please contact Jirayu Tulyanond at: jirayutul@tusbc.org

click here for Thai info

 

Thailand – U.S. FTA Timeline

Late '01 - Thaksin and Bush discusses possibility of initiating a bilateral FTA

Apr '02 - TIFA negotiation commences

Oct '02 - TIFA signed

Jun '03 - Thaksin and Bush reconfirms commitment to a bilateral FTA

Oct '03 - TDRI publishes FTA Study

Oct '03 - Bush announces intention to launch FTA negotiations – Oct ‘03

Dec '03 - TUSBC presents TDRI study to Thai government

Jun '04 - FTA Negotiation commenced

Jun '06 - FTA Negotiation predicted to conclude

opyright - Thailand - US Business Council

Downloads


Research Paper: A Study on the Impacts of the Thailand - U.S. FTA (by TDRI)

  • To Download entire study: click here
  • To Download the Executive Summary (in English): click here
  • To Download the Executive Summary (in Thai): click here

Trade & Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the U.S. and Thailand:
:
Link to USTR Press Release /
Download Text

General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) click here

The Treaty of Amity between Thailand and The United States

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs document click here
  • Article by the U.S. Embassy in Thailand click here

Final Act Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations

  • Table of Contents click here
  • General Agreement on Trade in Services click here click here

FTA Related Articles: click here

FTA Related Press Releases: click here

FTA Related Interviews: click here

World Trade Organization's Trade Policy Review Papers click here

Trade Related Congressional Research Service (CRS) Papers: (emphasis on US domestic and internation trade policy) click here

FTA Related Transcripts: click here

Book Reviews: click here

Thailand - U.S. FTA Experts List: click here

Relevant Links


Relevant Organizations


Department of Trade Negotiation - Ministry of Commerce (Thailand)

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR)

The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI)

The Fiscal Policy Research Institute's FTA Monitoring Website

ailand US Business Councill
Other Bilateral FTAs

Chile - U.S. Free Trade Agreement (Final Text)

U.S. - Chile Free Trade Coalition website

Singapore - U.S. Free Trade Agreement (Final Text)

Singaporean Ministry of Trade & Industry's FTA website

Australia-Thailand Closer Economic Relations Free Trade Agreement (CER-FTA)

Download: Thailand - China FTA Study by TDRI

ight - Thailand US Business Ccil
Other Links

Center for Trade Policy Studies

The Foreign Trade Information System

White House Fact Sheet on Free Trade and Thailand

U.S. Govt's Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) Page

Copyright - Thailand US Business Councill

FTA-Related Headlines

Japanese 'deserve US-style access'
Bangkok Post, Sep 3, 04

Thailand's FedEx: Free trade agreement with U.S. opens opportunities
Bangkok Post, Aug 27, 04

REPORT ON U.S.-THAI FREE TRADE AGREEMENT FOCUSES ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Thai Press Reports, Aug 17, 04

THAI-US TREATY OF AMITY SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE
Thai Press Reports, Aug 17, 04

Free trade pact with U.S. may speed up banking reforms in Thailand Bangkok Post, Aug 6, 04

Micky Mouse and Intellectual Property Right Business Review Weekly (Australia) , Jul 29, 04

Free trade is more than the stars and stripes Australian Financial Review, Jul 22, 04

Free trade at the dawn of the Asian century Australian Financial Review, Jul 19, 04

Car makers support FTAs Australian Financial Review, Jul 15, 04

Progress seen at first round of trade talks between Thailand, US Bangkok Post, Jul 08,04

Critics to ask Bush to halt FTA talk as public not consulted Bangkok Post, Jun 29,04

Farm subsidies must go in time bound-manner: G 20 Financial Express, Jun 21,04

Intellectual Property:FTA Pressure on Thailand Thai Press Report, Jun 21,04

Free Trade Devastating US Mfg Sector Market News International, Jun 21,04

Peru seen as FTA gateway The Nation, published on Jun 17,04

Care needed on FTA deals with superpowers Thai Press Reports, June 14, 04

U.S. trade negotiators may bring up genetically modified organisms issue Bangkok Post, Jun 09, 04

Free Trade 'won't boost rice exports' The Nation, May 27, 04

Compromise and Cooperation needed to forge Thai - U.S. FTA Thai Press Reports, May 26, 04

Farm-shrimp export: Move to delay US ban The Nation, May 13, 04

US pushes for all-embracing free trade pact with Thailand Chennelnewasia, May 5, 04

Leadership new key factor in business Bangkok Post, May 4, 04

Cabinet urged to approve FTA talks with US The Nation , May 3, 04

FTA teams to take cautious approach
The Nation , Apr 29, 04

FREE-TRADE PACTS: Ministry to set up operations centre
The Nation , Apr 16, 04

FTA talks face a host of obstacles
The Nation , Apr 10, 04

Leading Congressman's letter slams Thaksin's 'repression' of freedom
The Nation , Apr 4, 04

FTA pacts applauded by automobile sector Bangkok Post,Apr 1, 04

 

 

 

 

FTA-Related Headlines Archives


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