'Major progress' in FTA talks

Thailand and Peru have made “significant progress” in negotiations to upgrade their bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), with both sides agreeing on major elements covering wider market access and deeper economic cooperation, Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun says.

- PHUSADEE ARUNMAS

The Department of Trade Negotiations said talks to modernise the existing FTA, which have been ongoing for years, have now reached a substantial conclusion on core issues, Ms Suphajee said.

Only a few remaining technical matters are still under discussion and are being expedited, paving the way for the formal completion of the upgrade, she added.

Negotiations to upgrade the FTA had stalled for more than a decade before being revived in the middle of this year.