Recently, Natural Rubber tends to slow down in line with global economic growth. The COVID-19 outbreak severely affects the global economy and rubber demand by affecting supply chains and market disruption. In this regard, the International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC) held the 36th Meeting of ITRC on 22-23 November 2021, with Mr. Nakorn Tangavirapat, Governor of Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT), as the Chairman, Mr. Datuk Ravi Muthayah as the Head of Malaysian delegation, Mr. Farid Amir as the Head of Indonesian delegation, and Mr. Sukatus Tarngwiriyakul, Deputy Governor of the Rubber Authority of Thailand, as the Head of Thai delegation. Furthermore, Mr. Supadetch Ongsakul (TRA Deputy Secretary-General), Ms. Piyaporn Saelim (TRA Manager), Mr. Phudit Junthawadee (TRA Secretary), and TRA staff attended the meeting. 

The significant matters at the meeting include 1) The meeting agreed to establish ASEAN Rubber Council (ARCo). The ASEAN Secretariat informed that they would bring the proposal of establishment of ARCo to discuss in the ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Crops (ASWGC). Furthermore, the meeting appreciated the efforts of Indonesia NTRC to further facilitate, and contact ASEAN HQ for an official reply/decision on the proposal for ARCo to be under ASEAN; 2) The meeting agreed to invite Cote d'Ivoire to collaborate with ITRC by being a membership under ARCo or a membership club of TIM together with other NR producing countries; 3) Further researching to change  IRCo to an Inter government organization (IGO); 4) Consideration on improving measures and mechanism of ITRC such as SMS, AETS, DPSC, and SMO to be more efficiency; and 5) Consideration of the Sustainable Price Mechanism (SPM), which needs to be consistent with the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Recently, the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) had established a working group to solve the rubber price issue in a short term and stated that SPM might solve the rubber price issue to a certain extent. However, other mechanisms are still needed, such as long-term rubber supply management, increasing natural rubber demand or innovation in rubber base products, building additional incomes for farmers, etc. In conclusion, the meeting agreed to bring the Sustainable Price Mechanism (SPM) issue to the discussion under ANRPC.

The Thai Rubber Association is pleased to support the important policies of TIM governments. We believe that the strong cooperation of Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia under the International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC) plays a significant role in stabilizing rubber prices and developing forward the world's natural rubber industry with sustainability.

Mr.Chaiyos Sincharoenkul

President

The Thai Rubber Association