Starch Europe's Position on the Resumption of Negotiations for an EU-Thailand Free Trade Agreement
As the EU continues to create closer trade ties with countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN), Starch Europe wishes to reiterate its deepest concerns about potential tariff concessions on starches and starch derivatives manufactured from local tapioca, also called cassava.
Thailand is the world’s largest producer of tapioca starch at extremely low costs compared to those in the EU. Thailand is also the world’s largest exporter of native tapioca starch and derivatives and has a significant capacity to flood the EU market should these products be granted preferential access. It is a primary defensive concern for Starch Europe members.
As EU-Thailand trade negotiations resume, Starch Europe calls on the EU Commission to treat as highly sensitive the following starch products:
- Native tapioca starch (CN 1108 14 00)
- Dextrose (CN 1702 30 50)
- Maltodextrin (CN 1702 90 50)
- Dextrins and modified starches (3505 10)
- Sorbitols (CN 2905 44, CN 3824 60)
We also ask that rules of origin prevent circumvention of trade in the ASEAN region, including the free trade agreements concluded with Singapore and Vietnam. Tapioca roots and chips used for tapioca starch production must originate wholly from the country where the raw materials are processed.
To read our position paper, click here:
