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racket

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Everything posted by racket

  1. You’re assuming the sale of the villa is only catered towards foreigners. There obviously potential Thai property buyers as well, including companies that buy these villas and rent them out. Foreigners have the option to lease the land for 30+30+30 years. Or, if you have a Thai partner, she or he can buy the land. The Thai government has just drafted a revision of the lease which could potentially make it possible to lease the land for 99 years by the end of this year.
  2. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/26/world/asia/thailand-cambodia-conflict.html
  3. What people are forgetting is that Thailand is now facing border issues with almost all its neighbors. The Myanmar border is closed due to fighting between rebels and the government. In the south, there are tensions with the Muslim population. Now, Cambodia is causing problems by banning Thai imports. The closed Myanmar border has hurt the economy in Thailand’s northwest, and Cambodia’s ban adds more strain. This creates economic hardship and internal tension in Thailand. Neither Thailand nor Cambodia has trade deals with the U.S., and ASEAN cooperation may be weakening, with some countries facing higher U.S. export tariffs. Remember, everything the military does in Thailand favors the generals and its leaders who are mostly pro-China stance. The current "Thaksin-led" government is US backed. If the Thai military rises from the ashes because of this conflict, I'd suspect something bigger could be in for the long-term. Could this be a deliberate attempt to destabilize the region?
  4. Crazy I know, and It starts at ~300%; a headache affecting entire SE Asia. However, that number typically works itself down eventually to around 40-60% because some car manufacturers will open shops and minimum manufacturing of parts which introduces tariffs reductions, but still a very high number. In Singapore it's even worse! There's no space for manufacturing there for foreign manufacturers, so the percentage is typically higher. China, with its proximity, has built factories and replacement shops all across SE Asia effectively bringing down the tariff rates to practically zero! Thailand still has time to negotiate, but the closer they get to the deadline, they'll likely cave and accept 0% tariffs for US goods with thai farmers getting squeezed, and that'll be the END for pretty much half of the political party system in Thailand who rely on their votes. If that happens, expect another election with pro-western Move Forward Party to rise up, or a coup d'etat that'll align itself with China. This is IF Thailand caves to 0% US imports.
  5. Think of the consequences of that, because if a 20y/o wants sex, the law would prohibit them to buy condoms. That in itself would lead to more insecure sex and a higher rate of infections.
  6. Thai pig farmers would go out of business if tariffs on U.S. arg. imports were removed. Reality is, Thailand has had a lost decade if not more, with an outdated education system and almost no new investments. Now, they’re trying to boost the economy by handing out cash, but this continues to fail creating lasting growth. Coupled with government instability, this is not a friendly environment to grow a business. This country should AT LEAST be growing 4-6% yearly, now they're lucky if they get 2%. Their economy is deflating, and BoT is unable to lower rates because their population have one of the highest debt levels in SE Asia. Maybe things turn around, and I hope it does!
  7. Here are the tariff rates Thailand imposes on just goods from the European Union, according to ChatGPT. 36% is a low number compared to what Thailand imposes on other countries. Thailand has until August 1st to negotiate, so the current numbers aren't final. This could mean Thai companies face lower profits, or they might raise prices for U.S. consumers. Vietnam is likely pleased to see higher rates in neighboring countries, but this seems like a deliberate strategy. The U.S. prefers manufacturing in Vietnam or the Philippines due to their closer location. Remember, Thailand still struggles with poor infrastructure, a lack of skilled workers, and an unstable government, making it a tough place for businesses. As a result, more electronics production might shift to Vietnam. I believe this could split ASEAN, and push countries in the region toward protectionism.
  8. Could be, but remember: HIV spreads typically among gay people, that's how it initially started. Thailand has a huge gay population, and their youths have been sucked in to that culture, so I'm not surprised we're seeing an epidemic on the rise nowadays. I don't believe women are the infected group.. Would be nice to see some infographics for more info.
  9. The same could be said for Thailand imposing massive tariffs on European car manufacturers. I've always wanted to buy a BMW or Mercedes, but to pay 50% more for a car is plain ass stupid. So we are stuck with boring Toyotas, Hondas and to some extent Ford (which can't deliver parts on time). Malaysia has zero tariffs on imported EVs. I mean sometimes it's unfair, and I get it, but Thailand has decided to fund its government through imports and you're getting punished big time for buying anything outside Thailand, unless it comes from China for some strange reason. ..but there're talks now between Thailand and the European union on changes to tariffs so this can obviously change.
  10. Thai's about to learn how unfair dual pricing really is🤣
  11. How is this not making things safer? Visa-free rules are all about security to start with. I don’t buy that the leisure industry would undo a change from less than a year ago (July 2024)—they loved the extra tourists from the 60-day visa deal. Now you think they’ve flipped? You’re just swallowing what the media says. I hope they rethink this decision, as I believe the 60-day visa exemption supports Thailand’s economy more than it harms it. According to Pattaya Mail: "Many of the exposed abuses have involved Chinese passport holders." Why not focus on tackling the source of the issue instead one would think…
  12. This isn’t about stopping illegal business or what the media says. It’s about Thailand boosting security after deporting over 40 Uyghurs, which upset the West. Thailand’s worried about retaliation, and stuff’s already happening in the south. I wouldn’t be surprised if we also see a temporary rollback of the DTV or stricter requirements. The move to a 60-day visa-exempt period was welcomed by every major economic sector when it was introduced and took effect. You can look back at articles from that time to see the reaction. Again, this move is all about increasing national security after what happened with the deportations.
  13. Melatonin seems to be back in stock, particularly on Lazada, after being unavailable for a while. I used to buy from Drk Melatonin through LINE, where a bottle of 3mg Melatonin with 240 tablets cost 589 baht. He's out of stock currently. On Lazada, the cheapest equivalent I found is 930 baht. Shopee still doesn’t sell anything related to Melatonin, so its availability on Lazada might be temporary. I’ve seen it come and go before, disappearing suddenly. My go-to brand is Puritan’s Pride 3mg. I take it 30 minutes before bedtime, and it works wonders. Since there aren’t many reviews for the Melatonin products on Lazada, I suspect this might be a short-lived opportunity before authorities or Lazada step in and restrict sales again. Here's the general link: https://www.lazada.co.th/catalog/?q=Melatonin
  14. Someone is trying to make money spreading fear. Without mentioning one country and an example.
  15. Only if you earn more than 1,000 Baht per month from the Referral Program. To my understanding, exchanges are not required by law to submit customers' trading information to the TRD. Bitkub has an article regarding taxes. You can read about it here.
  16. It seems the Thailand Elite Visa doesn’t fit squarely into either the Non-immigrant or Tourist visa categories; it may be considered a blend of both. You might consider reaching out to Binance TH Live Support for further clarification. Capital gains on cryptocurrency profits remain somewhat under the radar, as exchanges are not legally obligated to report users’ trading activity to Thailand’s Revenue Department.
  17. Binance Thailand is now accepting registrations from foreign nationals residing in Thailand. Please note that a Non-Immigrant or Permanent Resident Visa is required. For more details, visit: https://www.binance.th/en/faq/identity-verification/a6760d03d73947e8b188dbc3c10cab91
  18. Yes, I’ve read that article too. The delay is due to the eVisa system not yet being rolled out to all embassies. To get an idea of when the ETA system will be fully implemented, keep an eye on the eVisa system’s expansion. Once it’s widely available, the ETA will likely follow, as both systems will be integrated into a single, unified online portal.
  19. With the soon introduction of the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), which serves as a form of pre-screening for visa-exempt travelers, you’ll know ahead of time if entering Thailand without a visa is viable. This removes any uncertainty at the border. For those familiar with entry procedures in Malaysia and Singapore, it works similarly: you simply scan your passport, and you’re in. If you’re using the visa-exempt option, it’s generally advisable to spend a few days outside the country before re-entering. Being questioned at the border can be a sign that it’s time to consider applying for a visa or having a solid reason for frequent entries without one. While most of the time they will let you in, repeated entries—especially via land border crossings—could eventually lead to denial. However, you can still try another border, and in many cases you'll likely be granted entry. Overall, traveling into Thailand has become easier due to the transition to a more civilian-led government, which has resulted in more relaxed policies. For instance, travelers can now stay up to 90 days, a recent shift reflecting this new approach. Good luck..
  20. Out of stock, unfortunately.
  21. Yes, that's one way to get it.
  22. Bitkub has reopened its platform to foreigners, but given its past decision to restrict foreign access in 2021 due to regulatory pressure and system upgrades, I remain uncertain about its long-term reliability. In contrast, UpBit is a larger exchange with strong backing from prominent Thai investors like CP Group, which is one of Thailand’s largest conglomerates, and has partnered with global players like Dunamu, the parent company of UpBit Korea. UpBit has also demonstrated resilience and stability by becoming one of the top five cryptocurrency exchanges globally in terms of trading volume. As the saying goes, “follow the money.” With its strong financial backing and consistent operations, I believe UpBit continues to be a more reliable option for foreign users. Good luck!
  23. If you want to avoid any hassle, just fly in and out of Thailand without any issues. Be sure to stay at least 2 nights abroad before returning to Thailand. You can usually do this about 3-4 times a year before they start asking questions. When they do, be sure to have 20,000 baht in cash, a return flight reservation, and a hotel or condo booking, and you'll be good to go. The reason they've tightened the requirements at land borders is due to the large number of travelers going in and out. This situation will likely become more pronounced when DTV holders start doing border runs to activate their next 180 days. The same applies to embassies—the busier they are, the stricter the requirements for visa applications. It's not that they don't want you here; it's just that they're overwhelmed. Thailand's immigration process is still lagging behind compared to countries like Malaysia and Singapore, where you can register online and simply scan your passport upon arrival without needing to interact with immigration staff. This will probably change in the future.
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