Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing the RCEP. That it is a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, I do apologize, the RCEP.  Sometimes I get my acronyms confused. The ASEAN, RCEP, APEC, TPP etc. 

As we have done another video contemporaneously with this one, we are discussing the RCEP and how it is likely to impact Thailand. Well it seems to bring together a number of countries that represent roughly a third of global GDP. So, yes it is going to have a major impact on Thailand economically in terms of trade. I suspect there are going to be ramifications which reverberate for years if not decades, maybe centuries to come possibly. I don't mean to engage in too much hyperbole but it is it is a major development I think no matter how you look at it. 

A few Americans have asked me “what do I think the implications are with respect to Americans doing business here in Thailand and the US Treaty of Amity?” My response is "not much in the sense of legally". The Treaty still exists between Thailand and the United States. The benefits accorded to Americans looking to do business here in Thailand, especially American Companies wishing to operate here insofar as they don't necessarily have to deal with some of the aspects of the Foreign Business Act most notably certain requirements requiring a more profound Thai presence in terms of shareholders and possibly on the Board of Directors. So the benefits accorded under The Amity Treaty I don't see how they will be impacted by the RCEP in any type of legal since. Now practically yes there will probably likely be many ramifications in a practical level with respect to trade hear in Thailand. 

Something I think that is noteworthy for Americans looking to do business in Thailand. The Amity Treaty coupled with for example this recent development with respect to this bringing together of this trade group, this is net win-win I think for Americans because Americans can come to Thailand and do business and they can operate in a country that kind of operates at the crossroads of this huge trading block. So the US-Thai Treaty of Amity while it was always a benefit, it may have even more broad benefit to American business here in Thailand in the coming months and years and maybe even decades because those businesses can operate much the same as any other Thai business here in Thailand and they may gain some benefit from the sort of knock-on implications knock-on effects of this wider trade area in the form of this RCEP trade zone if you want to call it that. 

So in many ways these are exciting times but I will say I don't think one should look at this, it is definitely not Zero Sum. One should not look at the Americans as loser and RCEP as some kind of winner. No I think especially as it pertains to Thailand, I think the Amity Treaty accords Americans a great many benefits that may be magnified in the aftermath of the signing of the RCEP.