Thailand plans to submit its request to become a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) by this year.
Membership is expected to help Thailand as competition heats up in the electronics, seafood and agriculture fields from rival export and manufacturing economies, such as Malaysia and Vietnam.
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said Thailand should become a member of CPTPP by next year because the country wants to upgrade its role in trade competition and shield itself from trade uncertainty.
"Membership is meaningful to Thailand because the country favours competition [and there is] uncertainty in the global economic outlook because of the trade war," said Mr Somkid.
Previously, Thailand asked for support from Japan to lobby CPTPP members during Mr Somkid's visit to Japan on July 17-21 for the 4th meeting of the Japan-Thailand High Level Joint Commission.
Negotiations on the CPTPP were concluded in January by 11 countries -- Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia, Mexico, Canada, Peru, Chile, Japan and New Zealand -- who together account for about 13-14% of global GDP.
CPTPP is the successor to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a similar deal that included the US until the Trump administration decided to withdraw.
Apart from lowering trade barriers between countries, the deal also includes greater protection of intellectual property rights.
Mr Somkid said next year will be an important time to upgrade the role of Thailand in the region because the country is schedules to chair Asean.
Thailand aims to organise many forums to attract global leaders to visit the country during the Asean Summit 2019.
The meeting will be held twice, in June and in November. In addition to Asean member countries, leaders of six other Asia-Pacific countries will also join the meetings, including China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Somkid said trade officials from 16 Asia-Pacific countries confirmed to have agreed on concluding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership this November.