Thailand and the United States Resume Discussion and Collaboration on Trade Issues

Business Wire,  June 23, 2008  

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WASHINGTON -- An official delegation from Thailand's Ministry of Commerce visited Washington, D.C. from June 11-14 to resume discussion and collaboration with the United States on critical trade issues. The Thai delegation met with Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Barbara Weisel and other officials on June 12 to reengage in dialogue for the first time since Thailand's national elections and return of parliamentary democracy in January 2008.

During the June 12 meeting, the Thai delegation and USTR officials reviewed recent progress in trade and investment policies, addressed key trade challenges, and explored common objectives in strengthening trade and investment ties, including the Doha negotiations, intellectual property protection, and other bilateral and regional initiatives being pursued respectively. Both sides agreed on the importance of maintaining and ensuring continued dialogue by establishing a mechanism that will facilitate direct communication and allow for better cooperation in preventing and resolving trade issues between both countries in the future.

"Our meeting with USTR officials was positive and very productive, and we were happy to discuss Thailand's plans to address U.S. trade concerns, as well as how these plans will improve Thailand's trade status with the United States," said Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand Siripol Yodmuangcharoen. "This is certainly a positive step, and we expect great progress on future discussions."

The Thai delegation also met with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to discuss information-sharing on patent and trademark issues. In addition, Thai officials discussed intellectual property rights and cooperation with members of the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA). As a WTO member and pursuant to the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), Thailand is committed to working with all interested parties in protecting intellectual property rights.

To discuss opportunities to strengthen trade cooperation and resolve existing trade issues, the delegation also met with U.S. academics, public health and consumer groups, U.S. congressional staff members, trade associations, and the U.S. business community, including U.S. Chamber of Commerce, US-ASEAN Business Council, and National Fisheries Institute. As one of the top 30 export markets for U.S. goods and a destination for U.S. foreign direct investment (2006) worth $8.2 billion, Thailand continues to work with the United States toward a healthy and cooperative relationship.

Permanent Secretary Siripol Yodmuangcharoen led the delegation and was accompanied by Puangrat Asavapisit, Director General of the Department of Intellectual Property, and Chutima Bunyapraphasara, Director General of the Department of Trade Negotiations.

About The Office of Commercial Affairs:

As the overseas representative office for the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, The Royal Thai Embassy's Office of Commercial Affairs is primarily responsible for trade matters including policies and promotion at both the multilateral and bilateral levels with an aim of fostering trade between North America and Thailand. For more information, visit http://oca.thaiembdc.org.

This material is distributed by Global Communicators, LLC, on behalf of the Office of Commercial Affairs, Royal Thai Embassy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.

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