The Commerce Ministry will seek cabinet endorsement for a proposed negotiation framework for a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the European Free Trade Association (Efta) following a recent public hearing on the matter.
Auramon SupthaweethumG, director-general of the Department of Trade Negotiations, said the department held the hearing on March 30, attended by state agencies, the private sector, farmers, the civil sector and academics.
The move was in line with the wishes of Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit who wanted the department to speed up free-trade agreement talks with countries that are Thailand's key trading partners, to expand the global reach of Thai trade, she said.
