BANGKOK, March 18 (TNA) – Thailand and fellow ASEAN
members are asserting their roles in reforming the World Trade Organization
(WTO) to tackle new challenges arising from trade protectionism, a senior Thai official
says.
Director-General of Trade Negotiation Department Auramon
Sapthaweetham on Monday briefed reporters on the outcome of last week’s
seminar, “WTO Reform: Perspectives for ASEAN Countries.”
She said the seminar made recommendations for improving
WTO’s transparency, strengthening its dispute settlement mechanism and
effectively enforcing trade regulations.
The recommendations would be forwarded to the ASEAN Economic
Ministers’ retreat to be held in Phuket, Thailand, next month, said Auramon.
ASEAN members viewed that the WTO must increase its role to
address new challenges especially the protectionist measures in the Sino-US
trade war, she said.
As ASEAN Chair, Thailand continued to push for regional
economic integration and called on other ASEAN countries for a concerted effort
to reform the WTO. (TNA)
