Korean threat to Thai industry

The agreement aims to liberalise trade between Korea and the ten-nation ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) bloc by 2010 as part of plans for a wider regional free trade pact. Chiu said, however, that a more moderate Thailand-South Korean free trade agreement seemed to be nearing a conclusion quietly.

Leathergoods are currently included on a list of products considered for import tariff reductions under the agreement. Chiu said his group had made its concerns known to Thai negotiators but had not received a response. It wants leathergoods placed on a list of sensitive products on which tariffs would not be cut too quickly. 'Although Thai producers have competitive production and labour costs compared to South Korean manufacturers, the Korean producers still have an advantage over the Thai leathergoods industry in terms of cost and quality of raw materials', he said.

Currently, import duties on leathergoods items average 40%. In addition, said Chiu, South Korea had proposed the inclusion of about 100 items, including leathergoods, manufactured in the Kaesong special economic zone situated in North Korea, in its trade agreement with Thailand.

The proposal reflects Seoul's policy to promote peace with the North by supporting its economic development. Mr Chiu said the Kaesong zone offered much lower labour costs than those of Thailand and several Southeast Asian countries, raising concerns among ASEAN nations.

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