Thailand is ready to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) when the trade agreement body officially enlists new member countries, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak says.
Mr Somkid made the comments after discussions with Japan's economic revitalisation minister Toshimitsu Motegi yesterday.
"Negotiations [to join] will take several months to complete, while official trans-Pacific partnerships [regarding the CPTPP] will be announced later this year," he said. "After the announcements, Thailand may then request to become a member."
The CPTPP is a trade agreement with 11 current member countries -- agreed only in principle to date -- aimed at easing trade between the nations.
Its members comprise Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. The effort incorporates most of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement but suspends 22 provisions which reportedly favour the United States.
US President Donald Trump withdrew from the TPP in January. However, he said last month he hinted he may re-sign the deal over concerns regarding China.
Mr Somkid said yesterday he has instructed the Department of Trade Negotiations to hold talks with CPTPP members to ask for support in Thailand's bid to join.
According to him, concerns about the country's agricultural sector will have to be addressed, particularly regarding the use of genetically modified organisms, he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Somkid said talks with the Japanese should also focus on agreements outside the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement.
"These agreements and tariffs have thus far focused on agriculture and industry, but we should look towards negotiations involving technology, artificial intelligence and establishing big data centres, to increase the depth of cooperation between us and Japan in the future."