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Bangkok Post
Bangkok Post
Business

SMEs 'to get fair deal' under trade bill

The Trade Competition Bill will be reviewed fairly, says Bhumjaithai MP Akkaradet Wongpitakroj, who heads the review committee.

The changes are expected to have wide-ranging implications for businesses and consumers.

Mr Akkaradet, who chairs a House committee vetting the bill, said the panel would examine the law to address loopholes and shortcomings that have emerged in practice.

He said the committee would assess whether problems stem from weaknesses in the law or inadequate enforcement, with a focus on strengthening oversight and improving regulatory effectiveness to ensure the legislation reflects economic conditions and market realities.

The committee will also consider whether the Trade Competition Commission has sufficient powers to prevent monopolies and regulate market dominance effectively, he said.

"We will use the merger of major telecommunications operators as a case study to prevent monopolies that directly affect consumers," he said.

Mr Akkaradet said one of the bill's key objectives is to protect small businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), enabling them to compete on a more level playing field in a market dominated by large corporations and imported products.

He said the bill is not intended to restrict large businesses, but ensure fair competition under the same regulatory framework.

"The bill seeks to create a system in which large and small operators can coexist and support one another without monopolistic or unfair competition," Mr Akkaradet said, adding the goal is to promote balanced growth.

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