This week, the EU will hold a second round of talks on a free trade agreement with Thailand, with Bangkok keen on negotiations being wrapped up by early 2025.
Thailand’s economy, which has been languid for years, could be given a shot in the arm by the trade pact.
The pact would also solidify the EU’s pivot to Southeast Asia, with Brussels already having secured trade deals with Vietnam and Singapore. Other agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines are currently under negotiation.
The latest discussions between the EU and Thailand are likely to be tense.
Both sides want to protect their own fishery industries, which is proving to be major stumbling block. And Bangkok says the EU is asking for a more comprehensive and higher-caliber deal than Thailand has entered into with any of its existing free trade pacts.
The first round of negotiations took place last September in…
