Avoid trade pact for now

Avoid trade pact for now

The military government maintains sovereign power to resume efforts to get the country to join the new version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. However, it still lacks the social mandate needed to press ahead with the move.

The plan has come under the spotlight again following a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and Japan's economic revitalisation minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Tuesday.

Mr Somkid said after the discussion that Thailand is ready to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) when the trade agreement body officially enlists new member countries.

The deputy prime minister has instructed the Department of Trade Negotiations to hold talks with 11 CPTPP member countries to ask for support for Thailand's bid to join.

Mr Motegi told media after the meeting that Thailand had made it clear that it wanted to take part in the CPTPP.

Mr Somkid was quoted by Mr Motegi as saying that Thailand hopes to do so "as soon as possible".

The CPTPP is a multilateral free trade agreement formerly known as the TPP. After President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the TPP early last year, the CPTPP emerged in order to establish closer trade and investment linkages in the Asia-Pacific region.

The group comprises 11 Asia-Pacific economies, namely Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

The Thai government has eyed the TPP for a long time and conducted a series of pros and cons studies regarding membership. Civic groups are sceptical of being a member, particularly due to the issue of patent protection for innovative medicines.

The effort to join the TPP lost momentum after the US withdrew.

But now the military government is eager to resume talks with CPTPP members to get the country to join the pact. Such news raises concerns given the ad hoc status of the administration that came to power in 2014 through the seizure of power. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has promised general elections will be held by February next year, which is about 10 months away.

The Prayut administration may argue that it holds sovereign power to bring the country into such a binding agreement, but without a public mandate, the move lacks legitimacy.

If Gen Prayut can resume his premiership after the election through democratic means, he and his next government will gain both the legal and social mandate to press ahead with the CPTPP efforts.

This is important. The regime should be aware that if a political party that opposes membership wins in 2019, there will be complications.

The regime must realise that it is running the country without a genuine checks-and-balances mechanism to ensure legitimacy for its decision.

Even if the draft agreement for joining the CPTPP is signed, it will require approval from the National Legislation Assembly (NLA) as demanded by the charter. The coup-installed NLA body has over the past years acted more like a rubber stamp for the military government.

The withdrawal of the US from the pact happened when Mr Trump took office. It effectively halted the TPP process much to the relief of civic and consumer groups. However, Mr Trump has reviewed his earlier decision and there is a possibility of the US rejoining.

Unlike past constitutions, the current charter, drafted by the coup-installed committee under Meechai Ruchupan removes a clause that requires the government to facilitate the public to get access to the details of international treaties that may have widespread effects on the the country's security and socio-economic health.

With the prospect of a general election on the horizon, the military regime should leave the CPTPP, a key public policy issue, to the next elected government.

Editorial

Bangkok Post editorial column

These editorials represent Bangkok Post thoughts about current issues and situations.

Email : anchaleek@bangkokpost.co.th

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