BANGKOK, Oct 9 Asia Pulse – Thai manufacturers of furniture and electrical goods should adjust and capitalise from the


various free trade agreements (FTAs) that Thailand has in place with trading partners, a senior government official said Saturday.

Director-General Apiradi Tantraporn of the Trade Negotiations Department said Thai exports of furniture and electric products rose notably in 2012, with Thailand having exported US$1.3 billon worth of furniture and $13 billion in electrical goods last year.
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The two sectors account for 12 per cent of Thai exports. Mrs Apiradi urged furniture and electric goods exporters to make the most out of the fact that these two items form part of FTAs that Thailand has in place with Australia, New Zealand, China and India.

These countries agreed to reduce tariffs in these two manufacturing categories to zero, effective last month. A range of electrical goods including video players, sound systems and parts, refrigerators and air-conditioners can benefit from futher market opportunities in these nations, Mrs Apiradi said.

She also noted that Thailand’s FTA partners are both trading partners and competitors, and thus Thai operators should prepare to face greater competition in the future.

(TNA/OANA)