`Put decision on tariff-free fish on hold'

THAILAND - Thai fish farmers are calling for the elimination of fish import tariffs to be postponed, ahead of negotiations with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) on liberalisation.

They are concerned that a trade pact with the four non-European Union states will result in a flood of subsidised fish imports from Iceland and Norway. The two are members of EFTA along with landlocked Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

''Thai fish farmers will be hurt by the elimination of import tariffs by the Thailand-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) once the pact is put in place,'' said Thawatchai Athakonchira, Thai Fish Culture Farmers Association manager.

Mr Thawatchai offered his views to Thai negotiators from the Trade Negotiations Department ahead of their meeting with EFTA at a second round of negotiations in Chiang Mai in January next year.

At the first round of talks in the middle of October, there were calls for a free trade agreement covering all sectors, but its flexibility is yet to be determined by the two parties.

The second round of talks will focus on fish products and basic and processed agricultural products.

''We want the government to put off eliminating tariffs for the fish-farming sector for the next 10 years so that local farmers can develop their own fish strains and farming technology to ensure they are competitive with imported fish.'' Mr Thawatchai said.

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