A study on the benefits and impacts of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a newly formed bloc of 11 Pacific Rim nations excluding the US, is likely to be finished later this year. The Trade Negotiations Department has finished public hearings held in all regions throughout the country from August to September to gather feedback from stakeholders about the CPTPP.
The department will propose the initial study and public hearings to the CPTPP working committee chaired by Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong in November. The public hearings highlighted concern about issues relating to market access for goods, services and investment; intellectual property (IP) protection; public health; investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms; and government procurement.
Thai farmers and civil society organisations also vented their concerns about the impact of the new pact's IP chapter that prevents them from saving and reusing seeds that contain patented plant material.
Sontijirawong insisted that farmers would still have the right to collect and reuse seeds, but only for a non-commercial purpose. Various farmer groups also raised concerns about the dumping of agricultural products from other countries on the local market and higher competition from imports. Another roadblock was the possible import of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) if Thailand joins the new bloc.
