Tuesday's bloodless coup in Thailand has left a free-trade agreement negotiated between Tokyo and Bangkok up in the air, a senior Japanese official said Thursday as businesses waited for the dust to settle.
Japan had planned to sign the pact soon after the Thai parliamentary elections in mid-October, but the coup has thrown it into doubt, Vice Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Takao Kitabata said at a news conference.
"Japan remains committed to promoting the agreement with Thailand, but the latest developments could have unforeseeable effects on the pact," he said.