BANGKOK, Oct 30 (TNA) — The United States’ decision to suspend privileges under its Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for Thailand had not been finalized and remained negotiable, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said.
He made the remark after meeting US Charge d’Affaires to Thailand Michael Heath. He said they discussed the GSP issue and were aware that it had not been finalized yet and negotiation remained possible. Mr Somkid said he would conduct the talk during the 35th ASEAN Summit that Thailand would host early next month.
“The US Charge d’Affaires insisted that the GSP suspension had nothing to do with the Thai government’s ban of 3 chemicals and it was only a coincidence. The US measure was not an international political matter because Thailand and the US has had time-honored bilateral good relations,” Mr Somkid said.
He said they did not discuss a labor issue that the US cited as a reason to suspend the GSP. He said they only talked about future cooperation.
Mr Somkid dismissed the comment of Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, chief strategist of the opposition Pheu Thai Party, that Thailand should treat the US as its trading partner rather than a superior. He said the US was a big country and it was good to maintain positive relations with the country. (TNA)
