Rapid Trade and Environment Assessment (RTEA) Thailand

The report examines the environmental challenges facing Thailand's rapidly growing electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) sector, which accounted for US$44.6 billion in exports in 2006. It highlights significant risks from soil and water contamination, resource depletion, and a growing volume of e-waste, which is increasing by 12 per cent annually. The document analyzes the existing regulatory framework, including the Hazardous Substances Act and a draft National Strategic Plan for e-waste, while emphasizing the need for the urgent enactment of the Thai WEEE Act. It further discusses the necessity for Thai exporters to comply with EU directives (WEEE and RoHS) to maintain market access and recommends government incentives for clean production and the development of a domestic de-manufacturing industry.

• Thailand's electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) sector is a primary driver of export-led growth, with exports valued at US$44.6 billion in 2006, representing approximately one third of the country's total exports.
• The volume of electronic waste (e-waste) in Thailand is increasing at a rate of 12 per cent per year, with mobile phone discards projected to rise from 11.5 million units in 2003 to 203.27 million units by 2008.
• Environmental and health risks in the EEE sector are more pronounced among mid-stream producers of parts and components, who dominate the Thai industry, compared to downstream producers of finished products.
• Thailand faces the risk of becoming a destination for illegal e-waste dumping from other countries, a concern specifically noted in the context of the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA).
• To maintain access to the European Union market, Thai EEE exports must comply with the WEEE directive on waste management and the RoHS directive restricting hazardous substances.
• The report recommends the urgent enactment of the draft Thai WEEE Act and the implementation of the 'Polluter Pays Principle' to establish an integrated management system for e-waste.

APA

Tingsabadh, C., & Jantarasarsophon, P. (2007). Rapid Trade and Environment Assessment (RTEA) Thailand. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/rtea_thai_electrical.pdf

Chicago

Tingsabadh, Charit, and Pracha Jantarasarsophon. Rapid Trade and Environment Assessment (RTEA) Thailand. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2007. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/rtea_thai_electrical.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Tingsabadh |first1=Charit |last2=Jantarasarsophon |first2=Pracha |title=Rapid Trade and Environment Assessment (RTEA) Thailand |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=June 2007 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/rtea_thai_electrical.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{tingsabadh2007rapid, author = {Tingsabadh, Charit and Jantarasarsophon, Pracha}, title = {{Rapid Trade and Environment Assessment (RTEA) Thailand}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2007}, month = jun, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/rtea_thai_electrical.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }