Thailand is disappointed with the US decision to keep the country on the Tier 2 Watchlist of its latest Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report but insists the latest ranking will not affect the country's export growth expected at 5% this year.
"Thailand views the report has not done justice to the significant and tangible progress Thailand has made in various areas during the past year," the Foreign Ministry said in response to the US TIP report which keeps Thailand on the same ranking with Myanmar and Laos.
What the country had done on anti-human trafficking includes: "Policy initiatives, prosecution of wrong-doers and complicit officials, prevention of potential victims, witness and victim protection, and partnership with various groups of stakeholders, both domestic and abroad," the ministry said.
The government remains committed to strenuously addressing human trafficking, while seeking to further strengthen and expand cooperation with truly concerned partners, it said.
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"After all, tackling trafficking in persons by the government is not aimed at any evaluation but to better protect both Thais and foreigners in the kingdom -- equal in human dignity -- from the menace of human trafficking while upholding humanitarian principles to which Thailand has always adhered," the ministry said.
Washington on Tuesday night released the latest revision of the its TIP report 2017 which defines the Tier 2 Watchlist as countries where governments do not fully meet the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act's minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to meet those standards.
The worst category would be Tier 3 which may be subject to certain restrictions on US non-humanitarian and non-trade related foreign assistance.
According to the report unveiled by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, "Thailand is a source, destination and transit country for men, women and children subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking."
Thai victims of trafficking and some of the estimated three to four million migrant workers in Thailand are forced, coerced or defrauded into labour or tricked into the flesh industry.
The government does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so, the report said.
The Commerce Ministry's permanent-secretary, Wiboonlasana Ruamraksa, said the decision was disappointing and regrettable.
The ranking could tame the reputation and image of Thai products.
However, she said, the report is unlikely to affect Thai exports as the Commerce Ministry is still confident the country's export growth this year will reach 5% as projected earlier.
"We have made a great effort in tackling human trafficking problems; both the government and private sector have made certain progress in doing so," Ms Wiboonlasana said.
"Unfortunately, the US did not realise this. Anyway, this will not have any bad impact on Thai exports this year since we will still keep export growth target at 5%."
Although the Tier 2 Watchlist may not lead to trade bans or any non-tariff barriers, it would tarnish the image of Thai products, particularly in the eyes of buyers in developed countries such as the US and Europe, where people care about human rights, she said.
Ms Wiboonlasana said the Commerce Ministry still expected that the recovering economies of Thailand's trade partners should help increase demand for Thai products.
That would apply particularly to Thai farm products as rising farm prices have reflected strong demand from overseas markets.
Thai exports jumped 13.2% year-on-year to US$19.9 billion (676 billion baht) in May, the highest in more than four years.
Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said Thailand will continue its strategy to boost exports in other new emerging markets particularly the group consisting of neighbouring Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, known as CLMV.
Referring to the TIP report ranking Wednesday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the human trafficking situation was bad two years ago when the country was placed on the lowest rung of Tier 3 before it was upgraded to the Tier 2 Watchlist last year after the government stepped up efforts to crack down on human trafficking networks, as well as amended relevant legislation on anti-human trafficking
This means the government's efforts to combat human trafficking have gained recognition especially in terms of improved law enforcement, he said. However, much work remained to be done.
Gen Prayut said he stressed at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday the need to take tough legal action against business operators and officials suspected of involvement in trafficking.
Even though Thailand has not been downgraded in this year's TIP report, the government still finds it unsatisfactory.
