Japan-Thailand
The Japanese and Thai governments started exploring a possible bilateral FTA in 2001-2002, but official negotiations didn’t start until February 2004. They concluded their talks in April 2007 and the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) came into force on 1 November 2007.
The FTA is comprehensive, covering trade in goods and services, investment, intellectual property rights, agriculture, competition policy, etc.
It was strongly opposed by social movements both in Thailand and Japan. Thai groups mobilised against the FTA’s provisions on patenting life forms, toxic wastes and investment. One special concern was that the Japanese would take advantage of the deal not to ship Thai healthworkers to Japan (as under Japan’s FTAs with the Philippines and Indonesia) but to operate an exclusive health facility in Thailand, for Japanese people, who would be flown in to avail of the best medical personnel Thailand has to offer — who would then be unavailable to treat poorer Thai citizens. A major row also erupted around the legalities of Thailand’s interim military regime pushing through the ratification and entry into force of the deal during their hold on the country after the September 2006 coup. Japanese groups mobilised particularly on the potential of the deal to increase Japan’s exports of toxic waste to Thailand.
last update: May 2012
Articles
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26-Jun-2011 Foreign restaurants eating into local action
The Thailand Restaurant Association (TRA) warns that foreign food chains are posing a greater threat to Thai restaurant operators amid government indifference and failure to promote the local industry. -
21-Feb-2011 The Nation Japan advises Kingdom to boost labour force
Thailand should produce about 700,000 skilled labourers to serve the investment influx from Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises after the ongoing revision in the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (Jtepa). -
23-Apr-2010 Time to make the most of trade with Japan
The government should set up an agency to follow up the implementation of the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) in order to make it more effective, says the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI). -
29-May-2009 The Nation Asean-Japan FTA will enhance JTEPA
The Asean-Japan Free-Trade Agreement will take effect for Thailand early next month, and the Kingdom will see enhanced benefits on top of its own bilateral trade pact, a senior commercial officer said yesterday. -
20-Sep-2008 Thanh Nien Trade pact with Japan to open door wider for Vietnamese exports
A free trade agreement between Vietnam and Japan will bring new opportunities for Vietnamese products to enter the Japanese market thanks to lower tariffs, a senior official says. -
2-Nov-2007 AFP Japan-Thailand trade pact takes effect
Japan and Thailand held their first meeting to implement a bilateral free trade pact, which took effect Thursday despite concerns among Thai workers. -
27-Oct-2007 Bangkok Post Activists want FTA with Japan nullified
Activists opposing the Thai-Japanese free trade area (FTA) agreement yesterday filed a complaint with the Constitution Court, asking it to nullify the deal which they say is unconstitutional. -
12-Oct-2007 Bangkok Post NLA nod ’not needed for JTEPA’
Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram insisted the Thailand-Japan free trade agreement, signed by the Surayud administration, is in line with the 2007 constitution and it is not necessary for it to be endorsed by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA). -
3-Oct-2007 Bangkok Post Japan FTA all set for November
The Thai and Japanese governments yesterday ironed out the last details before the free trade agreement takes effect on November 1. FTA Watch member Jacquechai Chomthongdi said the activist group would bring the case to the Constitutional Court as the new Thai constitution requires transparent consideration of all international treaties, including the trade deal signed with Japan. -
1-Oct-2007 Bangkok Post Japanese civil groups join push against FTA
Japanese civil and consumer rights groups have thrown their support behind the Thai anti-FTA movement by petitioning their own government not to rush into signing the Thai-Japan free trade agreement with the interim Surayud Chulanont administration. -
25-Sep-2007 Press release by FTA Watch
The Thai government has decided to conduct an exchange of diplomatic notes with the Japanese government on 2 October 2007, which will put the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) into effect within 30 days without bringing the matter under the scrutiny of the National Legislative Assembly. Prime Minister Surayut Chulanont defiantly announced that he would resign if ever a petition was made to the Constitutional Court and his decision proved to be in violation of the constitution. -
24-Sep-2007 Bangkok Post PM urged to take trade deal to parliament
Thailand’s Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont should think carefully before effecting the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) on November 1 without legislative body approval because such an action could violate the constitution, according to the FTA Watch group. -
11-Sep-2007 Nation JTEPA to boost Thai business but lower Japan’s investment : Kosit
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras said the Japan Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) will help boost Thailand’s business potential but Japan’s investment in Thailand will fall. -
20-Jun-2007 PM emphasises Thai free trade to Japanese business
Despite the current political problems prevailing in Thailand, the country will move ahead with trying to implement the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA), signed earlier this year, as soon as possible for the benefit of both countries, Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Wednesday. -
7-Jun-2007 Japanese check in to Thai hospitals
More Japanese nationals will receive medical treatment at Thailand’s private hospitals in 2007, according to a new survey conducted by Kasikorn Research Centre. -
8-Apr-2007 Thai PM returns from Tokyo; greeted by critics on arrival
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont dismissed criticism of his signing the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) as voiced by various sectors in Thailand. -
3-Apr-2007 El Financiero en línea Firma Japón TLC con Tailandia
Japón reafirmó hoy su ofensiva comercial global con la firma de un Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) con Tailandia, y el anuncio de que volverá al diálogo con Corea del Sur para alcanzar un pacto similar, además de estudiar las posibilidades de acordar otro con EU. -
3-Apr-2007 FTA Watch FTA Watch and allies reject JTEPA
Today is a day of the deepest shame for Thailand and the Tai people. The coup-installed government of Gen Surayuth Chulanon has decided to sign a free trade agreement with Japan. This is in spite of the nation-wide impact that this agreement will have on the environment, biological resources, farmers, patients, small businesses and the majority consumers of health services. We insist that JTEPA as signed by the government today is null and void. We reject it and refute any obligations it places on the Thai people. -
3-Apr-2007 MCOT Thai, Japanese leaders ink free trade pact
Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on Tuesday signed a landmark free trade accord which proponents in Thailand hope will boost bilateral trade, but which has drawn protests from non-governmental organisations and environmental activists. -
2-Apr-2007 FTA with Japan ’could hurt education sector’
The Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) could put Thailand at a disadvantage if it focuses more on competition than on co-operation in educational services, participants at a brainstorming session claimed yesterday.
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Japan’s JTEPA page
Webpage on JTEPA hosted by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs -
Thailand’s JTEPA site
Website covering the Japan-Thailand FTA, hosted by Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
