ronnie50

That argument is apples and 'oranges' though isn't it? The US exports 40% of its total production of orange juice to Canada - more than twice the amount it exports to the next four countries - combined. The Canadian consumers simply aren't buying it. True there are other supply problems unrelated to politics, and that could push up the price due to less supply available, but losing nearly half your market - that hurts regardless of anything else that's involved and regardless of the price. If no one is buying and they are bad mouthing your product loud enough other countries take note - just ask Tesla.

Florida orange juice WAY down. Obviosly Canada isn't buying, but where else does it sell? Europe? I see it here sometimes but never buy it. I guess Europe have their own oranges from Spain. Europe sales of Tesla off a cliff. The big test would be American icons like Coke, Lays, etc. Europe doesn't buy US cars. South America? Asia? No US cars here, but food like Heinz and other obvious names are likely taking a hit in many countries as this spreads.

Thanks - so no need to report the 4 nights in a Thai hotel?

I'll be in a similar position as the OP. I'll be going up country for 4 nights, staying in a hotel, then driving back to Bangkok. Can I just ignore the few days away within Thailand, and just report TM47 in-person at CW with existing TM30? (I would bring the receipt from the hotel in case an IO at the reporting desk gets too inquisitive). Do you think that would be okay, or do I really need my landlord to file a new TM30? The one I have now expires in 2027 and is indicated on the TM30 as such... Cheers R.

Persoanlly, I think the TRD infographic is quite clear and straightforward. Most of us here 180 days+ would not need to file or pay tax, as long as the remittances (and it seems to stick with remittances as the main funding, not global income) is from resources/funds we had nested in our home country's bank (or other countries' bank) prior to 1 Jan 2024. If you are business person who rents out condos or other profit making ventures in Thailand that's clear - you will/should be taxed (if you honestly report it). The infographic was published just last year. Unless they come out with something else, this seems clear enough (at least for me). This could also explain the blanc looks some are getting at the Thai tax offices (why are you here?)

Glad I spent 7+ years building up my THB accounts here prior to 2024. If I can cruise on that for a while - at least another year or so - this mess should be much clearer (one would only hope).

Unless there is a new law in the works and about to be unveiled to tax all residents in Thailand of more than 180 days on our global income (and there could be), as expats, at present, if we are not earning money inside Thailand, and not remitting money earned/received in the 'present tax year' or since 1 January 2024, we are not assessible for taxation. Our Thai bank accounts pay interest and then tax is deducted from that at source. If we remit money to Thailand that we've had in a foreign bank account for years (2023 and earlier), it should also not be assessible in Thailand. So this generally refers to those who live here year-round and are not working of course (retirees or similar). This seems clear to me. Let's hope no law (Act of Parliament) is proposed to tax global income.

I know. That's why I said I was surprised. Many Thais even in Bangkok are stuck in the 10-12,000 THB monthly salary. I can't really imagine this relative is making enough to pay. Will see.

If anyone can be bothered to go through this list of blocked foreign businesses and persons by the US, they might find out - but a Thailand search comes up 900 times in the 3,000 pages (mostly shell businesses in Thailand for Chinese, Burmese and Middle East companies). I searcched for the Thai PM and FM (Maris) but neither name came up. The list is always updated (as of 13 March 2025). https://www.treasury.gov/ofac/downloads/sdnlist.pdf

Was on Soi Nana yesterday. One of the bars has been converted into 'Casino' - not open yet of course, and no windows (the outside looked a bit like some American bars/taverns - just the name of the place and a door). I wonder if the owner is also a weed seller looking for the latest get-rich-quick thing. And I wonder if this means these small casinos are going to pop up on each corner like the weed shops did.

I was kind of surprised today to learn that an extended family member (Thai), who is kind of a youngish 'som tam lady' selling her food in a market in a neigbouring province, is coming to Bangkok tomorrow to pay her income tax. It seems the TRD is going through markets and other informal work places, checking ID cards, getting home addresses and sending tax forms to the people. First time that I have heard of this, but maybe it's not new. Anyway, kind of dispels the conventional belief that Thais don't pay any income tax. Hope she doesn't have to pay much.

I was in the US a month before the election. Hadn't been for a few years. Anyway, I like Australian wine, and went to a Safeway (supermarket) and they had lots of wine, but 99% of it was US wine (I don't like the taste). So I just bought some beer. Later the same day I was in a Wallgreen's - an American chain of big 'drug stores' (Very large pharmacies that sell lots of things aside from prescriptions). Again, They had two huge rows of wine and again only American wine. I wasn't in a big city, so I'm sure in LA or NYC it would be easier to find non-US wine, but I was disappointed. Oh, and the Wallgreen's had a massive rack of cigarette brands in plain sight behind the cashier, which was an odd thing to see coming from Thailand. But there ya go. 'American Freedoms'. You can sell smokes and booze in a pharmacy - but only 'Merican brands. Neither place sold Johnny Walker whisk(e)y either.

The article didn't mention the brand - but clearly the study refers to the QDenga Vaccine marketed by a Japanese pharma. It's already approved by the Thai FDA as mentioned, and is also approved the European Medicines Agency - EMA (the EU's FDA) and other countries. It's easily available at private hospitals here, so I don't think there's anything to worry about for the kids. It's approved for anyone 4 years of age and above by the EMA - no upper age limit for Europe. In Thailand they stick to 4 - 60 years of age. (The only reason 60 is the upper age limit is due to an abundance of caution recommended by the manufacturer as QDenga's trials didn't involve anyone older than that). It's two shots/jabs spaced over 3 months. It isn't cheap though, as mentioned. So I'm not really sure what this Thai 'vaccine trial' is all about. How would reproducing the Qdenga Japanese trials on kids 7 - 10 make it any cheaper for Thailand? It seems an odd thing to do (unless they don't trust the original trials by the manufacturer). Regarding older people, the Japanese trials focused only on mere hundreds, compared to many thousands of younger kids, who are more vulnerable to dengue (by being outdoors more than older working-age people).

The LTR (Wealthy Pensioner) is worth it if you can meet the requirements. At least for peace of mind (no tax) and convenience (fast track and multi-entry visa for 5 years and fewer reporting requirements). I don't have it, but from what others describe (those who do have it) the LTR seems to be the best of what's on offer. It's a good idea from BOI, because it means those who have it aren't restricting their wire transfers to keep an eye on how much they remit.

I'm trying to remember when they first started coming to Phuket. I remember seeing Russian signs on restaurants in early 2000s. But I'm certain the Scandinavians outnumbered them by far - especially at Karon. The rest of the foreigners were mostly Brits, Germans and some French. No Chinese tourists back then. Let's just hope they haven't found Koh Chang yet...

Who's reporting from Thailand on all these Daily Mail stories? Is Andrew Drummond back?

Could you do something about the still AI images of 'sports girls' who all have the same face and body (and four thumbs each)?

Exactly. The criminal libel law is probably the best example of that. It's part of a deliberate stitch-up to shield the wealthy and powerful. Since both parties were mainly farang, it left the authorities with a pain in the neck. The farang with the Thai wife followed the Thai route of settling with police as conciliators. But there are many holes in this story. It's incomplete. For example, if the other side 'paid compensation' so why did the elderly couple sell their place to pay 'legal costs'. As someone else said they'd never end up in jail anyway (they probably had bad advice from someone who was bound to gain financially by giving the bad advice). The old guy's face looks like he took a kicking though.

Then why are the government departments discouraged from using the two words? Because you know as well as I do, that 'discouraged' means 'do as the fuhrer directs you'.

He has a point.

Or photos of the landing sites of all the Apollo missions that are no bigger than one pixel, despite all the advanced telescopes that can take vivid images of the Milky Way and black holes a billion miles away.

NYT story last week" it has 200 words that NYT has found from government memos etc., indicating which words are verboten. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/07/us/trump-federal-agencies-websites-words-dei.html You can read it - it's erasing DEI wording mostly. But what jumped out at me is the erasure of 'woman' and 'female' - no restrictions on the use of 'men' or 'male' that I could see. How can they erase the words woman and female from government documents? What about birth certificates? What about other standard referencces? Weird.

I think I posted this story before - but it fits here: There useed to be a series on UK television called "Noisy or Nasty Neighbours" or similar. In one episode, one family complained to BBC/ITV about how their neighbour's dog was constantly barking at all times of day/night. It would be worse if he went away for a holiday and left the dog there - barking constantly. The family complained to him, but he did nothing. So they recorded the dog barking and put it on a loud speaker (looped), pointed it at their neighbour's home, and turned it up full blast when THEY went on holidays. Even after the dog died they kept playing it over and over.. 🙃

How many times have you heard: "I can only just apologize" - but they never fix the f'up or confusion? I came to believe that they were '(almost) always polite, but rarely helpful'

His companies have filed for bankruptcy six times, so no, he doesn't understand the economics of his actions on the electorate (and probably wouldn't care, even if explained to him using simple words). The fact he's a loud-mouthed loser, who thinks he's the smartest guy in the room, and surrounds himself with those equally incompetent - well.. writing is on the wall. Thing that worries me more is if China or Russia, who of course fully realize this, decide now's their chance to make major moves..