The head of the Thai negotiating team for the Thai-US Free Trade Area (FTA) agreement said Friday the sixth round of talks has ended with all grounds covered but no deal finalized.

Speaking at a press conference Friday afternoon at the end of the sixth round of negotiations held in the northern province of Chiang Mai, Chief Negotiator Nitya Pibulsongkram was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying that the Thai and U.S. negotiators have covered all sectors of goods whose market access both sides want to widen.

Electronic goods, wood and rubber-based products, glassware and ceramics, plastic products, jewelry and food are among the list of 8,100 goods whose tariffs will be reduced to zero as soon as the agreement is in force.

The FTA pact will enable Thailand to maintain tax privileges for goods such as gemstones and jewelry which are about to expire.

In exchange, Thailand proposed to reduce tariffs worth 5 billion U.S. dollars, or about 71 percent of the total value of goods Thailand imports each year from the U.S.

For sensitive goods including meat, milk, corn, tea, coffee and onion, Thailand has asked for ten years to gradual phase out import tariffs.

Nitya said the Thai negotiating team takes into account the Thai public concerns about the subsidy that the U.S. government lends to its agricultural sector. The Thai side therefore proposes the U.S. end all types of export subsidies and reduce domestic subsidies to create a level-playing field for competition.

During the week, the two sides also discussed liberalization of various services including trade in services, investment, finance, telecommunications and e-commerce. The U.S. has proposed to open up the market for services and procurement at the federal government level among 52 agencies and seven enterprises for Thai companies to join in the bidding.

Both sides will consult with their competent agencies for demands relating to intellectual property rights, including the proposal by the U.S. for Thailand to recognize smell and sound marks, and the Thai counter-proposal for the U.S. to recognize Geographical Indications to protect Thai Hommali Rice and Thai Silk. The Thai government will also deliberate on the U.S. proposal about data exclusivity terms for and protection of pharmaceutical patent.

Nitya said he has no authority to force all 150 negotiators from competent agencies to comply with him. But personally, he has faith in the FTA and believes that negotiation should continue.

The U.S. will host the seventh round of talks, possibly in Washington D.C. he said.

Source: Xinhua