Stories

Barriers to trade focus of Thai visit to ITC

6 July 2012
ITC News
Global trade and barriers to trade were the main topics at a visit to ITC by a delegation from Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce.

ITC’s Executive Director Patricia Francis on 4 July met a Thai delegation led by Yanyong Phuangrach, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce, for a discussion on trade. He was accompanied by Mr Krisda Piampongsant, Permanent Representative of Thailand to the WTO, and several other senior officials.

As most countries, Thailand too has felt the effect of the global financial crisis. In particular, the country’s export sector is suffering from the growth in anti-dumping measures and non-tariff measures (NTMs). Mr Phuangrach said that this increase in obstacles to trade has had a significant impact on Thailand and is becoming increasingly costly for the country’s economy.

Analysing obstacles to trade

While ITC has already offered Thailand’s Ministry of Trade assistance in analysing the obstacles trade faced by the country through its NTM survey programme, Mr Phuangrach was briefed in detail on how such a programme could help the country’s small and medium-sized businesses and revitalize the export sector.

The two sides also discussed how to increase South-South cooperation and how Thailand, as an advanced country, and ITC can work jointly in capacity building in the region. As part of this discussion Ms Francis extended ITC’s invitation for Thailand to participate at the World Export Development Forum (WEDF), which will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 15-17 October.

Learn more about the World Export Development Forum. 

Learn more about Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce.