Thailand’s commitments on services market liberalization under RCEP
RCEP is the only FTA in the world that applies both methods of scheduling commitments for the liberalization of trade in services, namely:
- The “positive list” approach: a member opens its services market to service suppliers of its partners only under the conditions, to the extent, and in the sectors specifically listed in its “Schedule of Specific Commitments” (in Annex II of the RCEP Agreement);
- The “negative list” approach: a member opens all of its services markets to service suppliers of its partners without limitation, except for the specific restrictions set out in its “Schedule of Non-Conforming Measures” (in Annex III of the RCEP Agreement).
RCEP allows member countries to choose whether to apply the positive list or negative list approach during the initial stage of RCEP implementation (the transitional period):
- Eight out of the 15 RCEP members chose to liberalize their services markets under the positive list approach during the transitional period, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand, China, and Vietnam.
The transitional period for members adopting the positive list approach is six years from the date RCEP enters into force (except for Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, which have a transitional period of 15 years). - Seven out of the 15 members adopted the negative list approach from the outset, namely Australia, Brunei, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, and Singapore.
Accordingly, Thailand has committed to liberalize its services market under the positive list approach during the transitional period (six years from the date RCEP enters into force), through Thailand’s own Schedule of Specific Commitments set out in Annex II of the RCEP Agreement.
This Schedule lists each service sector and subsector in which Thailand has undertaken liberalization commitments. The specific commitments regarding the degree of market opening for RCEP services and service suppliers in each such sector or subsector are set out accordingly, including:
- Commitments on the terms, limitations, and conditions of Market Access (MA);
- Conditions and qualifications relating to National Treatment (NT);
- Other additional commitments; and
- The timeframe for implementation of such commitments, where applicable.
The Schedule also clearly identifies the sectors and subsectors in which Thailand has undertaken commitments to provide greater future liberalization (FL) and/or commitments relating to MFN treatment.
Source: Center for WTO and International Trade - VCCI
The schedule of specific commitments on services of Thailand is attached below:
Annex II: Schedule of specific commitments on services of Thailand
The schedule of reservations and non-conforming measures for services and investment of Thailand is attached below:
