Thailand’s Trade Competition Commission in Action

THAILAND STUDIES PROGRAMME

About the Webinar

Thailand’s 2017 Trade Competition Law transformed its Trade Competition Commission into an independent agency with enhanced powers — including enforcement powers — to prevent monopolies and unfair trade practices. Through surveys, analysis, and outreach, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce and various Thai business associations, the Commission seeks to use its powers to protect the SME sector and to ensure competition — in internal trade in provincial Thailand no less than in e-commerce centred on Bangkok. In November 2020, the Commission’s work made headlines when it imposed conditions on the CP Group’s acquisition of Tesco’s stores in Thailand. At the same time, the Commission has taken a keen interest in the harmonization of competition law across the ASEAN economies, with a focus on such sectors as food delivery, logistics, online travel services and border trade. It aims in its work to help make Thailand both a favourable destination for investment and an attractive partner for trade agreements. This webinar will discuss the history of competition policy in Thailand, the work of its restructured Trade Competition Commission, the challenges that the Commission faces in its work and the sectors that it watches most closely for sign of unfair trade practices. It will address issues such as the relationship between competition policy and innovation in Thailand and the consequences of unfair trade practices for economic inequality.

About the Speaker

Krisda Piampongsant recently stepped down as the vice chairman of Thailand’s Trade Competition Commission. He was previously Thailand’s permanent representative to the World Trade Organization, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, trade counsellor at the Thai embassies to the United States and the European Union, and an associate judge of the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court in Bangkok.

Registration

This webinar will be delivered online entirely. You can join the webinar at the specified date and time using devices (computer, phone, or tablet) with internet connection.

Please register here to receive your unique link for joining the webinar.