In March 2023, the European Union (EU) and the Kingdom of Thailand resumed negotiations over a free trade agreement, nearly a decade after the EU withdrew from talks in response to the 2014 military coup. Since then, three rounds of fruitful negotiations have increased optimism about a near-term conclusion to the deal. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has expressed his desire to finalise the agreement by the end of 2025. With talks having resumed for a third round on 17 June 2024, it is crucial to consider the state of play of these negotiations and how the EU and Thailand might seek to advance their trade and Indo-Pacific interests and potential roadblocks. Whilst all parties hope the talks will remain constructive, significant gaps remain between Thailand and the EU regarding freedom of association and collective bargaining, among other issues such as public procurement.
Authors: Cain Hillier, Junior Researcher and Nicholas Stanig, University of East Anglia
Image Credits: Unsplash