Thailand's trade talks need to focus more on strategic partnerships rather than just free trade agreements, says Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak. A huge trade deficit was possibly one of the key reasons that India baulked at pursuing further trade talks. Mr Somkid also urged the trade negotiators to put India and China, as well as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) on the front burner of trade talks. "Trade talks should focus largely on those areas that the two parties mutually agree to and are interested in, leaving aside sensitive issues such as the agricultural sector." Mr Somkid yesterday told high-ranking officials in the Commerce Ministry, including Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn, that the trade negotiation strategy needed to change.

Source: Bangkok Post July 14, 2016 21:00 UTC