Chamber Welcomes Trade Negotiations with Thailand

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce today expressed its support for the start of bilateral negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with Thailand. The Chamber called it an important step toward continued trade liberalization in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region.

In Thailand for the 2003 APEC CEO Summit, Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue said, "The Chamber is pleased to see the launch of free trade talks with Thailand, a significant regional market with good growth opportunities. We look forward to working with the U.S. and Thai governments to ensure that the final agreement is fair to U.S. companies and good for the economies of both countries."

In 2002, bilateral trade between the Unites Sates and Thailand reached nearly $20 billion. An FTA could significantly boost trade and further strengthen an important strategic relationship. A comprehensive FTA with Thailand could provide a legal framework for addressing contentious trade issues such as IPR protection and customs administration, and permit market access for U.S. firms into certain restricted Thai industries, such as telecommunications and financial services.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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