Exports to FTA countries inch up despite pandemic
The export of farm, fishery and livestock products to 18 countries that Thailand has free-trade agreement (FTA)s with inched up 1 per cent year on year in the first 11 months of 2020 to US$13.52 billion, Department of Trade Negotiations director-general Auramon Supthaweethum said.
In November alone, the export of farm goods to these countries grew 12 per cent month on month to $1.23 billion. Though exports to all countries increased, shipments to China surged 18 per cent, Japan 9 per cent, Asean region 11 per cent, South Korea 5 per cent, India 16 per cent, Peru 223 per cent and Chile 344 per cent.
Auramon said the export of Thai farm, fishery and livestock products has grown continuously this year despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
She called on exporters to reap the benefit of FTAs by carrying out stringent quality control to ensure the products are safe from the virus or contamination.
She added that six countries that Thailand has an FTA with, namely Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brunei and Cambodia, have cancelled import tariff for Thai rice.
Meanwhile, 15 FTA countries comprising nine Asean nations, China, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru and Hong Kong have lifted import tariff for Thai cassava, while 16 countries (Asean plus Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Peru) have removed tariff for all rubber products from Thailand.
