NCPO tries to play down export fears
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NCPO tries to play down export fears

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has instructed relevant agencies to immediately communicate with foreign firms which have banned or are planning to ban exports from Thailand following the United States' downgrade of the country on the human trafficking list.

Speaking at an NCPO meeting yesterday, council secretary-general Gen Udomdej Seetabutr said efforts must be made to improve understanding with the US's Whole Foods, and Norway's ICA, which have decided to stop importing seafood from Thailand.

Dialogue must quickly be held with other firms which might ban Thai products, he said.

The foreign companies' decision came after the US State Department's latest Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report downgraded Thailand from the Tier 2 watch list to Tier 3, the lowest ranking.

The NCPO has also ordered relevant agencies to help tackle problems involving Myanmar workers as the Myanmar ambassador had appealed to the regime to address the issue.

Meanwhile, Songsak Saicheua, director-general of the American and South Pacific Affairs Department, said Costco and other big buyers of foreign products in the US have given assurances that they would not cancel their imports of Thai products despite Thailand being downgraded.

His comment followed a meeting between the US National Fisheries Institute and their buyers on Tuesday.

Mr Songsak said the companies still had confidence in trade with Thailand and would like to see developments and progress in the country's efforts to implement anti-human trafficking measures..

“These buyers want to cooperate with the Thai government and Thai producers to tackle pending problems soon,’’ he said.

Costco is planning to spend a week in Thailand starting on July 28 with some US buyers as they will inspect the fishery industry and listen to a briefing from state agencies, non-government organisations and the fishery association.

“The report by The Guardian newspaper and the TIP report did not directly affect the buyers' decision to import Thai products,’’ Mr Songsak said.

CP Foods has been at the centre of the labour controversy in Thailand after a report was released by The Guardian accusing the Thai fishing industry of using migrant slave labour.

Supermarkets have responded in various ways.

Some, such as Whole Foods, Carrefour and ICA Norway have chosen to de-list the supplier because of the allegations.

However, Mr Songsak denied rumours that Whole Foods had cancelled orders from CPF.

“There was an attempt to generate rumours to pressure buyers from the EU and the US," he said.

Thailand is also considering bringing the private sector group and state agencies to meet major buyers in the EU in Germany, England, France and Scandinavia and the US soon to explain the human trafficking situation in Thailand in more detail, he said.

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