Trade Sustainability Impact Assessment in support of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between the EU and Thailand
About the SIA
Learn about objectives, methodology, and partners.
Consultations
Discover how stakeholders can take part.
Reports
Acess the inception, interim and final reports
Meet our Team
The SIA is implemented by a consortium with extensive experience in trade and sustainability assessments:
Discover our project
The SIA supports the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade (DG TRADE) in integrating sustainability considerations into trade negotiations. Its findings will inform evidence-based decision-making and help ensure that the proposed EU–Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) contributes effectively to sustainable development for both partners.
The study applies a consistent four-step approach across the four sustainability areas, economic, social, environmental, and human rights: developing a baseline scenario, creating a sustainability heat map to identify priority areas, analysing potential impacts using Computable General Equilibrium modelling and qualitative assessments, and formulating policy recommendations.
The Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) process relies on contributions from a wide range of stakeholders across the European Union and Thailand, including civil society organisations, businesses, academic experts, and public authorities.
For more information about the ongoing negotiations, trade statistics and more, visit the EU-Thailand trade relations webpage.
Social impacts
The social analysis focuses on employment, wages, poverty, and inequality, establishing a baseline using socio-economic indicators and addressing the prevalence of informal employment in Thailand. It examines adherence to international labour standards. The impact assessment will combine Computable General Equilibrium modelling results with qualitative research on trade-labour linkages, paying particular attention to vulnerable populations including migrant workers, women, and indigenous peoples.
Economic impacts
The economic analysis will establish a baseline for trade in goods and services, identifying key sectors and trading patterns. It includes a quantitative examination of existing tariff regimes and an evaluation of investment barriers, such as foreign equity caps under Thailand’s Foreign Business Act. The study will also assess market access for public procurement and diagnose Non-Tariff Measures, particularly Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures and Technical Barriers to Trade. Wider economic impacts on GDP, welfare, and government revenue will be estimated. Furthermore, the analysis covers cross-cutting issues, including impacts on Least Developed Countries such as Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar, the EU’s Outermost Regions, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, and consumers.
Environmental impacts
The environmental analysis assesses trade-linked pressures across key areas such as greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, waste management, and biodiversity. It interprets impacts through scale, structural, technological, and product effects, while examining environmental governance and the implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements. Priority sectors for analysis include agriculture, fisheries, automotive, and electronics.
Human rights impacts
The human rights analysis evaluates how the agreement may affect the enjoyment of human rights, based on a screening of relevant negotiation texts and international instruments. Key issues identified for assessment include forced labour, indigenous peoples’ rights, the right to privacy, and freedom of expression. The analysis will focus on high-risk sectors such as fisheries, agriculture, and digital services, and will pay special attention to vulnerable groups including migrant workers and persons with disabilities.
Do you want to shape a sustainable future for EU-Thailand trade relations?
Join the dialogue and contribute to the project.
Contact the SIA project team or share your feedback through the Contributions page.