Human Rights Expectations for an EU-Thailand Free Trade Agreement

Abstract

There are an increasing number of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) established between the European Union (EU) and single member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). With the EU’s growing emphasis on human rights within supply chains, the analysis of recent and emerging agreements is a valuable indicator for the implementation of the EU’s value-based foreign trade policy and which obstacles to this exist. This study examines the case of a potential EU-Thailand FTA through semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders from ministries, civil society organisations (CSOs), trade unions, and academia. The article argues that EU FTAs prioritise and highlight various types of human rights, of which health, labour and environmental standards are the most important for an agreement with Thailand. Additionally, the EU appears to be seen as a credible advocate for human rights by Thai stakeholders; however, the extent of its impact and willingness to adapt depend on the official function the respective parties hold and the interests of the institutions they represent. Therefore, this article contributes to research on social and environmental perspectives in Thailand, and sheds light on value-driven EU policies and the implications of norms within global trade structures.