The EU and Thailand are entering the most sensitive phase of negotiations as both sides push to conclude a free trade agreement by the end of the year.

Euractiv: You met this week with European Commissioners Maroš Šefčovič and Christophe Hansen. What was the main outcome of those discussions?

Prapha: The meetings delivered a clear political message that Thailand is back and ready to engage at the political level. Now we need the political landing to conclude the agreement. Eleven chapters have already been concluded, and we are now in the more technical nitty-gritty aspect of the negotiation. There are some politically sensitive issues, including geographical indications, or government procurement, SPS [sanitary and phytosanitary measures], agricultural market access, in which the EU has different expectations than Thailand. After the ninth round, we are entering the zone of the difficult conversations.

Has there been progress on market access, particularly for sensitive products such as agriculture and automotive goods?

The exchange of market access offers should happen as soon as possible. We still need consultations with our private sector and stakeholders, and I think the EU is doing the same. European food producers have expressed concerns about products such as sugar and canned tuna, with some saying that they should be excluded from the agreement. Looking at the domestic consumption, Thai products are not going to destroy the competitiveness of the EU market.

Has the EU asked for exempting any products from trade liberalisation?

They haven’t asked for any exemption so far.

Geographical indications are another key issue. How far have discussions progressed?

I would describe the progress as unprecedented. Thailand has never before aligned its GI registration procedures so closely with the EU’s procedures and standards. We have already exchanged the list of GI products and completed the public consultation process for nearly 200 European products, which ended on 15 June. There were objections from the US on products such as cheeses, and we asked the EU to provide suggestions on how to resolve this tension. On our side, we have submitted our own list in two stages – food products and crafts, such as Thai silk.

How ambitious is the Trade and Sustainable Development chapter? Does it include sanctions and legally binding measures?

The approach is not for it to be legally binding, but to be aligned with sustainability principles and putting domestic processes in place. We have committed to advancing labour rights, environmental standards and international conventions. We are the first Asian country to ratify the ILO convention for fishery workers because we had been criticised for human rights violations. Sustainability shouldn’t be seen as a burden but as an element for competitiveness.

What is Thailand’s position on pharmaceuticals and intellectual property?

The EU has a sophisticated pharmaceutical industry and often pushes trading partners to go beyond the WTO TRIPS [Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights] Agreement through measures such as patent extensions and data exclusivity. Thailand’s position is clear: we adhere to TRIPS to protect our public health system while also protecting the competitiveness of our domestic pharmaceutical industry. But I’m optimistic because, looking at the examples of Indonesia and Vietnam, the EU has been much more flexible than in the past.

Looking beyond the trade agreement, what broader strategy is Thailand pursuing with Europe?

We are also working towards getting visa-free access to Schengen, and that would be a perfect complement for the agreement. More broadly, Thailand must reposition itself. We were once known as the Detroit of Asia, a manufacturing hub, with cheap labour and sophisticated technology. But we must adapt, and we must find new growth engines. As a middle power, Thailand cannot afford to stand alone. We need coalitions and reliable partners because our largest export markets and import markets are increasingly using trade as a geopolitical tool.

(adm, aw)