The allure of the Trans-Pacific Partnership is undeniable—if you’re a business lobbyist, that is. As far away as Thailand, public opinion is taking a backseat to business interests as the government weighs the risks and benefits of joining the TPP.
Making their case for the agreement are industry representatives eager to risk domestic jobs for a bigger slice of the world economy. According to Nikkei Asian Review:
A representative of Thailand's business community voiced support for the country's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement at a symposium in Bangkok on Wednesday.
At the meeting, sponsored by the Japan External Trade Organization and several local and regional groups, many participants said trade liberalization will promote economic growth in Thailand. The government has declared its "strong interest" in joining the pact, adding fuel to the domestic debate over the issue.
Steven C. M. Wong, deputy chief executive at the Institute of Strategic & International Studies Malaysia, presented the findings of study conducted by the ISIS at the request of the Malaysian government. The study determined that Malaysia's participation in the TPP will serve the country's national interest. Wong said Malaysia's participation in the talks from the initial stage helped it achieve positive results, including exemptions from some if its more onerous provisions.
Naoaki Kashiwabara, deputy director of the Japanese trade ministry's economic partnership division, told the symposium that Japan decided to join the TPP negotiations because of delays in wrapping up free trade agreements with other nations, and out of a desire to help formulate new trade rules.
Making the case against the agreement are who you’d expect; ordinary Thais concerned about their jobs. Asian Review again:
Some Thais argue that the country should lay greater weight on the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership because the TPP requires a greater degree of trade liberalization and could threaten local industries. One participant warned that if Thailand decides not to participate in the TPP, it will be at a disadvantage vis-a-vis Vietnam, which is already party to the agreement.
The participant also said the question is not whether Thailand should participate in the TPP or the RCEP, but should join both groups and use them in a complementary manner, stressing that Thais should not duck the debate on TPP accession.
Then again, what choice does Thailand have? Japanese economist Masahito Ambashi predicts Thailand will be virtually left behind in the global economy unless they join the agreement. According to Nation Multimedia:
Masahito Ambashi...said the negative effects of the TPP could be ‘very big’, since the Kingdom was already deeply integrated into the global economic network. Speaking at the TPP and the Creation of the New World Trading System conference, held by the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) and other agencies yesterday, he said there could be a huge diversion of trade from Thailand... to Vietnam, a founding TPP member, which was already gaining global share in manufactured goods.
And yet it seems the Thais are stuck in a lose-lose situation. Nation Multimedia again:
However, Kannikar Kijtiwatcha-kul, coordinator of FTA Watch, told the conference that the TPP would do more harm than good to Thailand as Supachai Panitchpakdi, the former director-general of the World Trade Organisation, had recently pointed out. She described the country's rush to join the pact as "racing to hell".
Just as it was in the United States, it seems naive economic promises and legislative strong-arming may just push Thailand to adopt this disastrous trade agreement, pushing manufacturing to even harsher extremes in the Third World as domestic production becomes a thing of the past.
We’ve seen how these trade agreements have affected working people in the United States, and it seems the Thais are in for a similar fate.