Japanese and Thai business communities call strongly for the early conclusion of a high-level and comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between two countries that will not only truly act as the foundation for the two countries' economic development and expansion of cooperation, but also serve as a model for Economic Partnership Agreements in East Asia.
This agreement should not only be consistent with the WTO agreements but should also achieve a higher level of trade liberalization and economic collaboration. In particular, the two countries should promote the liberalization of industrial products, since we believe that the elimination of tariffs on these products will contribute to the strengthening of the business infrastructure and international competitiveness of both countries. With respect to the field of agricultural, forestry and fisheries products, we will seek a well-balanced cooperation and liberalization that will lead to the sound development of the agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries in both countries and will help to create a favorable living environment for the people of both countries.
In order to establish a base in each country for the freer and smoother business activities, both countries should clearly express their intentions to liberalize the investment and services fields in principle, and should engage actively in the necessary cooperation to achieve that goal. At the same time, both Japanese and Thai governments should, with the participation of their business communities, establish mechanisms for resolving problems that arise in the course of their day-to-day business in each country.
In addition to the above, both countries should also foster development in such spheres as the liberalization and facilitation of the movement of natural persons, the protection of intellectual property rights, the harmonization of standards and certification, and the encouragement of e-commerce transactions, and should further promote cooperation in such fields as information and telecommunication technology, tourism, education and human-resource development.