Eurasian Economic Union seeks free trade agreement at BRICS discussions in Rio de Janeiro
Let's kick this off: Thailand's taking advantage of some sweet opportunities and pushing forward with negotiations for a Thailand-Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) free trade agreement (FTA). Last week, during the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, they went all in, using that forum to rev up the negotiations.
The Thai Foreign Minister, Maris Sangiampongsa, had a one-on-one with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, seizing an epic chance to affirm Thailand's dedication to enhancing ties with the EEU. These conversations were primarily about ramping up tourism and cultural exchange between Thailand and Mother Russia.
Yep, Thailand wasn't just playing around – they saw the value in Lavrov's presence, a big cheese in both BRICS and the EEU. Recognizing this as a strategic move, Thailand's eager to hammer out this FTA. The EEU, made up of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia, packs a punch as a significant trading bloc, contributing a substantial chunk of the global economy.
So, Thailand's all about moving those negotiations along, and they see this as a make-or-break moment. The FTA talks have been brewing for a while now, but Thailand's stepping up its game, capitalizing on strategic moments to make real progress. No word yet on the specifics, like the terms of the agreement or a timeline for its completion, but the talks are definitely heating up!
Reference(s):[1] "Thailand–Eurasian Economic Union free trade agreement." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Apr. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand%E2%80%93Eurasian_Economic_Union_Free_Trade_Agreement.[2] "Thailand-EEU FTA: Behind the Scenes." The Diplomat, Council on Foreign Relations, 28 Jan. 2020,thediplomat.com/2020/01/thailand-eeu-fta-behind-the-scenes.[3] "Thailand, Russia discuss trade expansion." The Nation, 3 Aug. 2021, www.nationthailand.com/news/40400794.[4] "Thailand's Push for a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union: Opportunities and Challenges." The ASEAN Post, 9 Aug. 2021, theaseanpost.com/article/thailands-push-free-trade-agreement-eurasian-economic-union-opportunities-challenges.
- Vieira reported on the key discussions held between Maris Sangiampongsa, Thailand's Foreign Minister, and Sergey Lavrov, both during the BRICS briefing and their subsequent one-on-one meeting, emphasizing the importance of multilateralism in the context of enhancing ties with the EEU for tourism and cultural exchange purposes.
- General-news outlets highlighted the strategic importance of Thailand's negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the BRICS members, particularly Russia, citing the EEU as a significant trading bloc that contributes a substantial portion of the global economy.
- As the FTA talks heat up between Thailand and the EEU, Vieira suggests that this multilateral pursuit is a critical component of Thailand's political agenda, particularly in light of the general-news reporting on the potential economic gains at stake.
