Prime Minister Orders Urgent Trade Tax Talks with US to Protect Thai Exports Before July Deadline

Brickinfo News Agency – Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered the Ministry of Commerce and relevant agencies to accelerate trade tax negotiations with the United States to secure a swift conclusion. The directive follows concerns that Thailand faces a tightening timeline to protect its export capabilities, as the US has already finalized agreements with several nations, including some ASEAN members, the European Union, Japan, and South Korea. Officials are working under a critical deadline, with current tax rates set to expire around July 24.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Suphajee Suthumpun, has been tasked with leading the inter-agency negotiations before the deadline. Government Spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek emphasized that the trade talks extend beyond any single ministry, directly impacting national competitiveness, the export sector, businesses, farmers, and the broader Thai workforce. The Prime Minister urged officials to work with urgency while maintaining thoroughness to prioritize national interests.

To drive these negotiations forward, a newly established working committee has actively begun addressing pending issues under the Thailand–US Trade Agreement, also known as the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART). Following her appointment by the Prime Minister on April 28, Suphajee chaired a strategic meeting on May 20 alongside the Minister of Industry, the Thai Trade Representative, and other key officials. The committee is focused on formulating constructive proposals to reach a mutually beneficial resolution before the US announces its findings under Section 301 investigation measures.

Progress had already been initiated earlier in May when Suphajee traveled to Washington, D.C., to hold high-level talks with the United States Trade Representative. During the meetings from May 3 to 5, US officials expressed a clear desire for Thailand to conclude the ART negotiations promptly, acknowledging Thailand’s sincerity in rebalancing bilateral trade. Both nations agreed to maintain continuous dialogue at both policy and technical levels.

“The government will not allow Thailand to lose its momentum in global trade,” stated Rachada Dhnadirek. “The Prime Minister has instructed all agencies to expedite their work to ensure that the tax negotiations with the United States reach a conclusion that best safeguards the country’s benefits.”