Third Reading on the Free Trade Agreement between the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Kingdom of Thailand
The National Assembly held its Third Reading on the Free Trade Agreement between the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Kingdom of Thailand today, the Chairperson of the Human Rights and Foreign Relations Committee from Thrimshing-Kangpara presented the Committee’s review report on the Agreement.
The Chairperson informed the House that the Committee had conducted extensive stakeholder consultations as part of its review process. The Chairperson submitted that the Agreement is expected to liberalise trade in goods, reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers, expand market access, and enhance economic and technical cooperation between the two countries. It aims to improve competitiveness, ensure regulatory transparency, boost Bhutan’s export potential, and attract investments from Thailand. The Committee also undertook a thorough analysis of the Agreement, considering both its advantages and disadvantages through in-depth discussions with the Ministry and relevant stakeholders.
The House deliberated on all 10 Chapters and 10.9 Articles of the Agreement and endorsed it. The House directed the Ministry to review and correct the errors in the Dzongkha text to ensure alignment with the English version. It also recommended that the Ministry consult with the Cabinet and, if feasible, consider establishing a dedicated division to oversee the translation of Dzongkha texts from English, recognizing the importance of promoting the national language.
The House will vote on the Agreement on 19 June, 2025 as per the Rules of Procedure.
