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Japan-Thailand free trade accord takes effect+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) TOKYO, Nov. 1_(Kyodo) _ The free trade agreement between Japan and Thailand took effect Thursday in a move that will eliminate tariffs on more than 90 percent of bilateral trade over the next 10 years. Under the economic partnership agreement between Japan and Thailand, signed in April, Japan will abolish tariffs on imports of Thai mangoes and shrimps. It will also relax immigration controls for cooks from Thailand. Thailand will lower import tariffs on Japanese cars and other products in stages. The trade liberalization agreement, which is also designed to improve the investment climate in Thailand for Japanese manufacturers, is the fifth such accord for Japan following those with Singapore, Mexico, Malaysia and Chile. Thailand is Japan's biggest trading partner among the five nations. Japanese and Thai government officials are to meet in Tokyo on Thursday and decide on the operational rules of the agreement. Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and his Thai counterpart Nit Piboonsongkram are scheduled to attend the meeting. Copyright 2007 Kyodo News International, Inc. |