Bush administration pursues free trade agreement with Thailand

Bush administration pursues free trade agreement with Thailand    The Bush administration announced Oct. 20 that it will pursue a free trade agreement with Thailand, expanding the opportunity for U.S. exports to this Southeast Asian country.
   The agreement would preserve the preferential status for U.S. investments under the U.S.-Thailand Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations, administration officials said.
   The U.S. Chamber of Commerce praised the proposed agreement. According to the chamber, bilateral trade between the United States and Thailand reached about $20 billion in 2002.
   “An FTA could significantly boost trade and further strengthen an important strategic relationship,” the chamber said in a statement.
   The Bush administration said it would formerly consult with Congress about the proposed U.S.-Thailand FTA in the coming weeks.