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 remember a few years back, a video on social media of a south asian man driving a car in Dusit District with those blue UN plates (looked like it was his personal vehicle, not a UN office car - no markings) . Someone cut him off I guess (not sure) anyway, he's standing outside his car yelling at a Thai driver and other Thais who stopped to watch. I think it was also in the mainstream news too.. So much for tact and diplomacy...At least no one was hurt that time. Takeaway point is that more people need to think before they act. Too many don't.

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.

It happens in many countries though with popular tourist cities. Some local/regional governments ban them, particularly if there is a shortage of long-term rentals.

The ones without hi-so connections with the local authorities. The article singles out Chinese, and they may well be a major cause of this (buying condos with no intention to live in them - just a place to stash their wealth). But I've stayed in Thai-owned condos in Hua Hin that are rented out short-term - usually minimum is 3 nights. The place I stayed had signs in common areas of the complex clearly stating in Thai and English that short-term rentals were not allowed. My observation was that many of the units were doing this anyway, and the Juristic Person office was in on it and would distribute keys as needed to short-term renters.

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...

Yeah. An extended Thai family member (a guy) was in love with a pretty, petite Thai girl when he was 20 and she was 16. The girl's mother, aware of his feelings, really pushed his mother and father to confirm a marriage (for the purpose of trying to cash in on a huge sin sot demand). She said if sin sot and marriage wasn't agreed very, very soon, she'd send her daughter to Pattaya to make money for her. Pure extortion. Didn't work. She got nothing. The guy was heartbroken. Don't know whether the girl ever went to Pattaya - but wouldn't be surprised.

Minor correction, but she's not a 'woman' if she's 18. She is still a girl herself. I'm aware of the international definition of 18 as adult, but in Thailand the age of majority is 20. So she'd be a Thai 'woman' at 20. As I say, it's a minor correction - and doesn't change the sleeziness of trafficking a younger girl. Shameful, but not very surprising to be honest.

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.

You know what I mean. Move them out of the regular commercial sex trade areas to avoid confusion and trouble. So move them out of Walking Street area to the edge of Pattaya - call it Ladyboy Town or something. Get them off Bangla Road in Patong. Then in Bangkok move them out of Nana Plaza and the 2-3 bars of Soi Cowboy. Maybe send them to the gay soi in Patpong. Dunno. But move them.

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'.