US Senator Urges FTA Pact with ASEAN

10 October 2009

Senior senator Dick Lugar will introduce a resolution today urging President Obama’s administration to consider Free Trade Agreement negotiations with ASEAN, suggesting a “comprehensive strategy” in the process.

The resolution comes ahead of President Obama’s scheduled trip to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Singapore next month.

Lugar cites competition with China and other countries that have FTAs in place with ASEAN, although he acknowledges that developing the strategy will be complicated considering the different levels of economic development and market systems in ASEAN countries.

The US policy towards military-ruled Burma has softened recently, with the US willing to engage in talks. However, the US has stated that sanctions will not be lifted unless progress is made towards democracy.

Currently the US has a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with ASEAN, a forerunner to the free trade agreement.

Burmese – Thai Meeting to Boost Trade

9 October 2009

A meeting between Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot and Burmese officials will take place next week on simplifying the customs clearance process to boost trade and investment between both countries.

Alongkorn’s scheduled visit to Burma is to discuss easing or removing restrictions on 92 restricted goods and products for import and export to Burma and simplifying the customs clearance process.

The discussions will also cover joint cooperation for developing roads along the Thai-Burmese border for transporting cargo.

Alongkorn will strive to revive the fifth Thai-Burmese Joint Trade Committee meeting which was last held in 2004 for investment and tourism purposes.

Removing or easing the ban on cross border trade and marine transportation, in place since 1999, will be a topic Alongkorn plans to engage in talks on.

Alongkorn will seek cooperation from Burma concerning three land routes connecting Thailand and Burma to the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) which would enable the two countries to access markets in China, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.

The government intends to also support an integrated infrastructure project, namely through logistics parks, export-import centers, bonded warehouses, industrial estates and commercial areas, a newspaper source reports.

New UN Guide to Combat Trafficking

9 October 2009

A new guide published by the UN Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP) is now available to assist relevant agencies in following human rights and ethical codes during anti-trafficking operations.

The guide encourages officials involved to emphasize safety and security issues, maintain anonymity and confidentiality, and ensure interpreters are qualified and well-prepared. Officials must not coerce victims in order to obtain informed consent.

The principles in the guide will assist all involved in counter-trafficking operations, including policy makers, researchers, and practitioners, reports a newspaper source.

The publication has been translated into Thai, and 8,000 copies are available for distribution to law enforcement agencies and other offices throughout the Kingdom.