BANGKOK(NNT) - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit has represented Thailand in the first round of negotiations for the Thailand-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Free Trade Agreement with Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Norway.


Following the negotiations, which took place on June 20 in Iceland, the Thai-EFTA Free Trade Agreement meetings were also held in Bangkok between June 28 and 30. The gatherings, hosted by the Department of Trade Negotiations (DTN), included level meetings of chief negotiators and a meeting of negotiation panels, with the goal of achieving the objective within two years.


According to DTN Director-General Auramon Supthaweethum, the talks between Thailand and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) covered 16 topics, including 1) Trade 2) Rules of Origins 3) Trade Facilitation 4) Trade Remedy Measures 5) Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures 6) Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade 7) Trade in Services 8) investment 9) E-Commerce 10) Intellectual property 11) Competition Policy 12) Government Procurement Agreement 13) Sustainable Development 14) Technical cooperation and capacity building 15) General, final and institutional Provisions and 16) Dispute Resolution.


The Thai-EFTA trade value surpassed $4 billion at the start of 2022. Thailand’s main exports to the bloc are gems, jewelry, watches, and automobiles, while its main imports are gems, silver, gold, and meat.

Thailand Launches First Round of EFTA Negotiations