Commerce Ministry sets up task force addressing GSP discontinuation on some 570 Thai products

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - On the US decision to discontinue offering the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, covering some 570 Thai export products to the United States, the Ministry of Commerce has set up a "War Room" unit, to pursue urgent discussions with affected private companies, in an effort to maintain the level of exports of tax-applicable products, and to find replacement markets.

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit, said today the ministry is looking into the details on 573 products which will no longer receive import tax exemption from the U.S. under the GSP program, saying that some products such as chemicals will now be subjected to just 0.01 percent tax, while others will face up to 20 percent.

 

The Ministry of Commerce is working to come up with remedies, which will be proposed to the joint committee on commerce’s meeting.

 

The Thai Commercial Affairs office in Washington D.C. has been tasked with holding talks with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) tomorrow, to establish common practice during the 6-month period of grace prior to the proposed GSP cancellation, while the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok as a possible opportunity to hold discussions regarding the GSP will be reviewed for appropriateness, as discussions with the USTR would be the most direct route to solving the issue.

 

On labour concerns and Washington’s request to allow the migrant workers union’s establishment in Thailand, the Commerce Minister said today the Ministry of Labor is the responsible agency required to handle this question, and will have to weigh up what will affect the country more between allowing the migrant workers union to be set up, or losing the tax exemption scheme.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2019-11-01

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More squealing.  All they while, they claim it has no effect and they can take their exports somewhere else.  And, then, more squealing.

A "War Room" no less. This will frighten POTUS for sure. There is a huge inbalance of trade in Thailand's favour. That might need fixing.

So might the human rights and slavery issue in the fishing industry that prompted this action. 

Instead these bright sparks set up a confrontationist style "War Room" with highly decorated military generals planning battle tactics. will they ever learn?

 

3 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

A "War Room" no less. This will frighten POTUS for sure. There is a huge inbalance of trade in Thailand's favour. That might need fixing.

So might the human rights and slavery issue in the fishing industry that prompted this action. 

Instead these bright sparks set up a confrontationist style "War Room" with highly decorated military generals planning battle tactics. will they ever learn?

 

NEVER, there would need to a rev******* and heads on s*****

Game on...

To qualify for GSP preferences you need to be an Undeveloped country without fancy submarines, helicopters and high speed trains!

42 minutes ago, Xonax said:

To qualify for GSP preferences you need to be an Undeveloped country without fancy submarines, helicopters and high speed trains!

Well; it is certainly undeveloped, can't even guarantee a stable electricity supply for the most part, no proper sewerage system with Treatment Plants etc.  They still don't have a Submarine or any HST's and many of their helicopters have either crashed or have no parts to make them serviceable !   However; my belief is that every country should hammer Thailand into submission when it come to unfair trading practices like massive Tarriff's on Imported goods whilst expecting zero duty on its Exports to other country's.  Thai Citizens living and working in other country's should also be treated in the same way as we are living here...Like Dog S**t  !

A question that ought to be seriously contemplated and discussed in that "war room" should be: "Is it commercially sustainable and fair to our international trading partners that we slap up to 600% import tax on their goods while we expect them to import our own goods at 0% tax?"

 

But since Thais are notoriously adverse to criticize their own shortcomings and only ever seek fault in others, that is not going to happen.

 

One of several main reasons for the strong (and strengthening!) Thai baht is the almost unnaturally huge trade surplus the country posts year after year, i.e. exporting way more than it imports. That gap must be closed.  

1 hour ago, trainman34014 said:

Well; it is certainly undeveloped, can't even guarantee a stable electricity supply for the most part, no proper sewerage system with Treatment Plants etc.  They still don't have a Submarine or any HST's and many of their helicopters have either crashed or have no parts to make them serviceable !   However; my belief is that every country should hammer Thailand into submission when it come to unfair trading practices like massive Tarriff's on Imported goods whilst expecting zero duty on its Exports to other country's.  Thai Citizens living and working in other country's should also be treated in the same way as we are living here...Like Dog S**t  !

Part of what makes human beings decent is being the bigger person. Not resorting to tit for tat tactics. I wouldn’t wish my government treated ‘any’ foreigners in my country like they often do here on anyone. It’s small, often xenophobic and incredibly petty. I want my county’s immigration to be a lot bigger than that.  
 

But when it comes to the import duties on many products here, I want to see it way more balanced. The price of wine here is ridiculous. I’m yet to find any Thai wine that’s decent enough at much lower prices than the imported stuff. It’s all expensive.
 

I hope the US goes all out in terms of the trade deficit. No more having your cake and eating it. 

That’s it, set up a war room to discuss with affected companies and find replacement markets instead of dealing with the root cause of the treatment of workers in the affected industries.

 

if they treated workers fairly, the sanctions would be removed, but that would affect hiso’s lifestyle, so ...........

4 hours ago, zydeco said:

More squealing.  All they while, they claim it has no effect and they can take their exports somewhere else.  And, then, more squealing.

Finding "alternate markets" is not easy and will not happen overnight. 

1 hour ago, Misterwhisper said:

A question that ought to be seriously contemplated and discussed in that "war room" should be: "Is it commercially sustainable and fair to our international trading partners that we slap up to 600% import tax on their goods while we expect them to import our own goods at 0% tax?"

Maybe this "flick on the ear" will wake them up before it becomes a 2x4 upside the head.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

On the US decision to discontinue offering the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, covering some 570 Thai export products to the United States, the Ministry of Commerce has set up a "War Room" unit, to pursue urgent discussions with affected private companies, in an effort to maintain the level of exports of tax-applicable products, and to find replacement markets.

Last week you said you didn't see any problems, today a war room to find a solution ...
Okay this is the modus operandi of this government, but decide what you want to make public!
You are all playing with the money of your "voters", a game with no chance of winning!

5 hours ago, webfact said:

the Ministry of Commerce has set up a "War Room" unit, to pursue urgent discussions with affected private companies, in an effort to maintain the level of exports of tax-applicable products

More subsidies on the way then !

I have prayed for this for years. I hope Trump gives Thailand a good shake and asks why no Americans own land in Thailand as agreed many years ago (I'm not American) I feel so sorry for working class Thais who should now be getting paid the same as in the West as gone are the days of cheap in Thailand. The elite are raking it in at the poor's expense. It disgusts me. 

1 hour ago, Classic Ray said:

That’s it, set up a war room to discuss with affected companies and find replacement markets instead of dealing with the root cause of the treatment of workers in the affected industries.

 

if they treated workers fairly, the sanctions would be removed, but that would affect hiso’s lifestyle, so ...........

Nope. They need to remove the ban on certain pesticides too, the real reason for Trump's trade war.

"Gentlemen,you cannot fight here-this is the WAR ROOM!"

11 hours ago, zydeco said:

More squealing.  All they while, they claim it has no effect and they can take their exports somewhere else.  And, then, more squealing.

America doesn't need Thailand. Period.

11 hours ago, Cadbury said:

A "War Room" no less. This will frighten POTUS for sure. There is a huge inbalance of trade in Thailand's favour. That might need fixing.

So might the human rights and slavery issue in the fishing industry that prompted this action. 

Instead these bright sparks set up a confrontationist style "War Room" with highly decorated military generals planning battle tactics. will they ever learn?

 

You can't fix stupid.

9 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

Well; it is certainly undeveloped, can't even guarantee a stable electricity supply for the most part, no proper sewerage system with Treatment Plants etc.  They still don't have a Submarine or any HST's and many of their helicopters have either crashed or have no parts to make them serviceable !   However; my belief is that every country should hammer Thailand into submission when it come to unfair trading practices like massive Tarriff's on Imported goods whilst expecting zero duty on its Exports to other country's.  Thai Citizens living and working in other country's should also be treated in the same way as we are living here...Like Dog S**t  !

I agree 100%!!!

It should be noted that president Trump is not sending any delegates to the Asian conference in Bangkok. How do you like that mister minister

A war room is just another name for a Committee of elites blathering on about how it will impact on the poor whilst they eat their free prawn sandwiches.  The end result will be no action and, hopefully, gastroenteritis.

19 hours ago, Xonax said:

To qualify for GSP preferences you need to be an Undeveloped country without fancy submarines, helicopters and high speed trains!

I have a cunning plan Captain Blackadder.

They have War Rooms and Task Forces 

 

But days earlier they were puffing out their little bird chests claiming the US move would have no impact. 

 

CP felt the need to tell everyone only their wonton noodles might be hit

 

Clowns