‘Zero chance’ of Thailand FTA under junta, Commission official says

An aide to the European Commissioner for Trade told EurActiv on 20 November 2015 that the suspend Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Thailand would 'never be ratified' whilst the country was under a military dictatorship.

The source highlighted the European Commission's trade policy launched earlier in 2015, ‘Trade for all’, meant an emphasis on human rights, corruption and transparency that EU citizens would simply not accept from a military junta.

The European Union suspended trade negotiations with Bangkok following a military coup in May 2014.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Human rights: Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Central African Republic and Thailand http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-human-rights-saudi-arabia-nigeria-central-african-republic-and-thailand/

ESO: Background information: Council conclusions on Thailand http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-on-thailand/

EurActiv, 24.11.15: Shinawatra letter is genuine, and invite still stands, say MEPs http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/shinawatra-letter-genuine-and-invite-still-stands-say-meps-319783

EurActiv, 03.12.15: Thai PM invite row escalates as Brok writes to ambassador http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/thai-pm-invite-row-escalates-brok-writes-ambassador-320110

EurActiv, 09.12.15: Foreign Affairs committee insist on right to hear from deposed Thai PM http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/foreign-affairs-committee-insist-right-hear-deposed-thai-pm-320231

EurActiv, 03.02.16: Thailand hits back: Abandoning EU free trade deal hurts Europe, too http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/thailand-hits-back-abandoning-eu-free-trade-deal-hurts-europe-too-321518

EEAS: EU Relations with Thailand http://www.eeas.europa.eu/thailand/index_en.htm

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