ASEAN and Canada Make Progress in Free Trade Agreement Negotiations
Fourth Round of Discussions Underway
The negotiations for the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are moving forward as both parties aim to expedite the process. In the recent meeting of the Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) and its 17 sub-groups, discussions focused on drafting the agreement, with plans for two more rounds of meetings this year. The goal is to conclude the negotiations by 2024.
Key Participants
Oramon Supthaweetham, the Director General of the Department of Trade Negotiations, has assigned Mr. Ratchawit Piyapramote, the Deputy Director General of the Department of International Trade Negotiations, to attend the fourth round of negotiations via teleconference on June 22, 2023. This meeting included the TNC to oversee and monitor the general negotiations, along with various small group meetings.
Focus Areas
The 17 sub-groups, which cover a wide range of topics including trade in goods, rules of origin, customs clearance, trade facilitation, and more, have made significant progress in discussing the drafting of the agreement. To ensure timely progress, two additional meetings are planned for this year.
Trade Figures
Between January and April 2023, ASEAN and Canada recorded a total trade value of US$9,136.26 million. ASEAN’s exports to Canada amounted to US$6,914.96 million, while imports from Canada stood at US$2,221.29 million. Leading exports included electrical machinery, textiles, and footwear, while major imports encompassed grains, machinery, and fertilizers.
During the first five months of 2023 (January – May), Thailand’s trade with Canada amounted to US$1,176.08 million. Thailand exported goods worth US$737.47 million to Canada and imported products worth US$438.62 million. Prominent exports included microwave ovens, canned seafood, and electrical equipment, while key imports comprised plant products, machinery, and fertilizers.
The discussions were sourced from the Commerce Department.
?ASEAN-Canada? Moving forward with the negotiations of the 4th Round of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), speeding up the general negotiations The meeting of the Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) and the 17 sub-group meetings discussed the process of drafting the agreement in progress’ n good Ready to plan two more rounds of meetings this year, expecting talks to conclude by 2024
Oramon Supthaweetham The Director General of the Department of Trade Negotiations revealed that he has assigned the Deputy Director General of the Department of International Trade Negotiations (Mr. Ratchawit Piyapramote) to attend the 4th Round of Negotiations for the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA). through a teleconference system on June 22, 2023. In this meeting It includes a meeting of the Trade Negotiation Committee (TNC) to supervise and monitor the general negotiations. and small group meetings by focusing on negotiations to draft an agreement The aim of both parties is to conclude the negotiations within the year 2024.
Mrs said Oramon that for the meetings of the sub-group It includes 17 sub-groups, namely trade in goods, rules of origin of goods. Customs clearance and trade facilitation Sanitary and phytosanitary measures technical barriers to trade, trade in services, telecommunications services Financial services, investments, intellectual property Government procurement small and medium enterprises, law and institutions; commercial medicines electronic commerce competition and technical and economic cooperation. The working group focused on discussing the drafting of the agreement. which has made good progress And there are plans to hold two more meetings this year in order to be able to conclude the discussions within the year 2024 as planned.
In the first four months (January – April 2023), trade between ASEAN and Canada was worth US$9,136.26 million. ASEAN exports to Canada worth 6,914.96 million US dollars. And imported from Canada worth 2,221.29 million US dollars. Major exports include electrical machinery. machinery, textiles and footwear, with the main imports being grain, machinery, fertiliser, pulp and waste paper. and electrical machinery
For the first 5 months (January – May 2023), trade between Thailand and Canada is worth US$ 1,176.08 million. Thailand exported to Canada worth 737.47 million US dollars. And imported from Canada worth 438.62 million US dollars. Major exports include microwave ovens and heating appliances. canned seafood and processing electrical equipment and other components, iron, steel and products, and rubber products. The main imports are plants and plant products. pulp and paper waste Machinery and components, circuit boards, fertilizers and pesticides
June 29, 2023
Source: Commerce Department Discussions
#ASEANCanada #negotiates #intensive #FTA #making #good #progress #Aiming #close #deals #year
