Thailand’s cabinet yet to consider CPTPP membership decision
Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s cabinet did not
consider on April 28 whether the country would seek membership of the
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
due to widespread opposition.
Due to conflict between different groups, the commerce
ministry has withdrawn its proposal, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce
Minister Jurin Laksanavisit told reporters.
On April 27, the Commerce Ministry of Thailand said it was presenting
the cabinet its study that shows membership will boost Thailand’s economic
growth, investment and exports, to help offset the negative impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Thai opposition parties, civil society groups and
prominent social figures have opposed CPTPP membership, arguing the move will
have an adverse impact on the agricultural and healthcare sectors.
The government of Thailand previously planned to make the
CPTPP membership decision in April or May.
The ministry’s Trade Negotiations Department has been
assigned to prepare the related proposal after a study on the pros and cons of
the CPTPP impact was completed.
According to Auramon, the study has taken into account all
related issues, particularly access to medicines and compulsory licensing under
the agreement on trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights among
member nations of the World Trade Organisation.
Meanwhile, Thai farmers and civil society organisations
expressed concerns about the impact of the new pact's intellectual property
provisions which prevent them from saving and reusing seeds that contain
patented plant materials. Critics have also been concerned about some CPTPP
provisions' impact on access to affordable medicines as access to medicines is
related to the protection of intellectual property rights and patents.
A study by Bolliger & Company Thailand, which was hired
by the department, found participation in the CPTPP would boost Thailand's GDP
by 0.12 percentage points in revenue a year.
The CPTPP is a trade agreement between Australia, Brunei,
Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and
Vietnam./.