FTA with Japan will be reviewed: Thai Junta

Bangkok, Nov 4: Seeking to ''set the right precedent'' the military junta in Thailand is all set to review the free trade agreement (FTA) with Japan, finalised by the ousted regime.

Addressing the interim parliament set up after the September 19 military coup d'etat, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula said public hearings would be held on the FTA before it is signed.

The Deputy Prime Minister assailed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's government for not seeking public opinion on the proposed FTA and said the review would make up for this lapse.

''We will hold full-scale public hearings on the Thai-Japanese FTA to set the right precedent,'' Pridiyathorn said.

The Dy PM was addressing the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) late last night following demands from several NLA members for a review of all FTAs negotiated by the ousted previous government.

These include the FTA being mulled with India under which 82 items have already become eligible for mutual duty-free access since September 1 this year as part of an Early Harvest Scheme.

UNI