Authorities are being urged to prepare safeguards and protective measures to cope with a possible influx of imports triggered by free trade agreements. Chen Namchaisiri, vice-chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said yesterday at the Commerce Ministry's seminar on future trade development that once a free trade agreement (FTA) had been reached with any country, the private sector and government must closely monitor the impact and get ready to launch protective or anti-dumping measures against imported products. He also urged Thailand to optimise preferential treatment under FTAs that Thailand has already signed and carried out with trading partners. Thailand has 12 FTAs in place, including the Thai-Chilean pact that came into effect last November.