The Thai Ministry of Commerce is preparing to explain new features of the Asean-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) and hold public hearings to ensure stakeholders understand and can take advantage of the benefits of the agreement.
The Department of Trade Negotiations will be in charge of the effort to publicise the so-called ACFTA 3.0 upgrade protocol, Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said on Wednesday.
After signing the protocol in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, Ms Suphajee said all member countries must complete their internal processes and inform the Asean Secretariat of their readiness for enforcement.
For Thailand, after the public hearings, the ministry will submit the agreement to parliament for its consideration and approval.
Mr Suphajee said ACFTA 3.0 improves on the previous agreement, making it more modern and transparent to ease trade processes.
Key areas of improvement include customs procedures, industrial standards, agricultural standards, and economic and academic collaboration.
The agreement introduces new areas of cooperation, aligning with new trade areas such as the digital and green economies, supply chain connectivity, business competition, consumer protection, and support for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
In the first half of this year, bilateral trade between Asean and China increased by 18.7% year-on-year to $430 billion, with exports totalling $145 billion and imports $285 billion.
Trade between Thailand and China rose by 28.1% year-on-year to $109 billion during the first nine months of 2025, comprising $30.7 billion in exports and $78 billion in imports.
Key exports included fresh, chilled, frozen and dried fruit; rubber products; computer, peripherals and parts; plastic pellets; tapioca products; and rubber.
Major imports comprised electric machinery and parts; machinery and parts; electric appliances; chemicals; computers, peripherals and parts; iron, steel and steel products.