Trump squeezes Thailand in trade row over chemicals ban

Kingdom's reversal reveals vulnerability to 'America First' pressure

MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writer

 

Farmers spray a rice field in the province of Nakhon Sawan, north of Bangkok.   © Reuters

 

BANGKOK -- On Nov. 27, Thailand surrendered to the U.S.

 

Southeast Asia's second-largest economy suspended an imminent move to ban three agrochemicals over safety fears. The restrictions could have led to a significant reduction in American agricultural shipments to the kingdom. The Donald Trump administration, however, knew how to hit Thailand where it hurts.

 

Suddenly, a country that had largely been a spectator in the trade war is grappling with the effects of the "America First" agenda head-on. And there may be more pressure to come, given Thailand's growing trade surplus with the U.S. -- always a Trump pet peeve.

 

The chemicals in question are a pesticide called chlorpyrifos and the herbicides paraquat and glyphosate, better known as Roundup. Thailand is hardly the only country concerned about them. The European Union has banned paraquat, as contact with it can cause chronic health issues and ingestion can be deadly. Vietnam and Malaysia are scheduled to prohibit it on Jan. 1.

 

Full story: https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Asia-Insight/Trump-squeezes-Thailand-in-trade-row-over-chemicals-ban

 

-- NIKKEI ASIAN REVIEW 2019-12-18

Prayut should have a chat with Putin, he'll straighten this out.

 

 

Well, you've shown the whole world that you're blackmailed, we'll see which country is next to do it.
How do you want to justify all the dead resulting from this wrong decision!

 Monsanto is the devil.

 

If this is any indication of possible stance US will take with UK trade deal... well, here is a poison pill to swallow

The three products are all pesticides. Chlorpyrifos is an insecticide other two are herbicides.Get the facts right!.

Paraquat and glyphosate - Trump is burping in the wind. What is wrong with this guy? Hair dye water logging his brain?

2 hours ago, bendejo said:

Prayut should have a chat with Putin, he'll straighten this out.

 

 

More likely to chat to Pooh in Beijing.

29 minutes ago, Magenta408 said:

Paraquat and glyphosate - Trump is burping in the wind. What is wrong with this guy? Hair dye water logging his brain?

Everything’s wrong with that outlaw corrupted clown, countless faults and crimes,  he’s an existential threat, he must go ! The quicker they will get rid of him the sooner entire world will have a sign of relief..What’s left of it anyways ☹️

I realy dont believe all this rubbish. More likely thai government pushing the idea that Trump is happy to kill thais is how i see it so the pathetic farmers using the stuff will actually stop instead of having a typical protesting hissy fit. This stuff kills, no mistaking it and as a farmer i can plainly say it aint needed and usually if it is its because your growing things in areas where it would be best to plant different crops. 

I love how the Anti-Trump people insert his name in every action the USA takes that they view as stirring up dislike for him.  DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE USA HAS HIS FINGER ON THE PULSE OF WHICH CHEMICALS THAILAND IS BANNING?  Some bureaucrat in the USA is responsible for trade and is the one making the decision.  In regards to the Pesticides and Herbicides, if they are harmful they should be banned.  However remember that decreased crop production has its impact also.  Additionally, I can recall when Saccharin was banned  because it produced cancer.  The researchers gave the mice an inordinate amount of saccharin to produce the correlation between it and cancer.  

7 minutes ago, Thomas J said:

DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE USA HAS HIS FINGER ON THE PULSE OF WHICH CHEMICALS THAILAND IS BANNING? 

Of course he doesn't, he isn't bright enough to know where to put his finger on his iPhone....COVFEFE!

4 hours ago, Emdog said:

If this is any indication of possible stance US will take with UK trade deal... well, here is a poison pill to swallow

The uk will lose all power, before it was part of a block now it will be an US vassal state. Super funny that the Brexiteers never thought about this. 

Just shows how corrupt they are in the US they are on the payroll of chemical companies. I seen the US do many bad things to the Dutch before because of our drug system and now they are decriminalizing it themselves.

 

The US is a big bully and if your not part of a big block like the EU or other trade organisations you will not be getting any good deals.

5 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Of course he doesn't, he isn't bright enough to know where to put his finger on his iPhone....COVFEFE!

xyophone well The Trump Organization is a group of about 500 business entities of which Donald Trump is the sole or principal owner.^[4] About 250 of these entities use the Trump name.  The Trump entities have total revenue of approximately $695 million and 22,000 employees.   Now tell me just how stupid you are if you compare yourself to his accomplishments?  Also, tell me the number of business run and employees hired by Clinton, Pelsosi, Obama, Biden or for that matter most politicians.  The USA economy is the strongest in 50 years so if his actions are stupid, we need more stupid business people running the government rather than career politicians who believe that waiving their pens somehow is like the Wizard of Oz. 

 

Not surprised American government have ever considered South Asia country's same garbage place for chemical products same Orange agent.

7 minutes ago, Thomas J said:

xyophone well The Trump Organization is a group of about 500 business entities of which Donald Trump is the sole or principal owner.^[4] About 250 of these entities use the Trump name.  The Trump entities have total revenue of approximately $695 million and 22,000 employees.   Now tell me just how stupid you are if you compare yourself to his accomplishments?  Also, tell me the number of business run and employees hired by Clinton, Pelsosi, Obama, Biden or for that matter most politicians.  The USA economy is the strongest in 50 years so if his actions are stupid, we need more stupid business people running the government rather than career politicians who believe that waiving their pens somehow is like the Wizard of Oz. 

 

Strange post, but I'll try to answer some aspects of it, and so that you do understand it correctly, I have never compared myself to his accomplishments!

I certainly don't lie thousands of times, cheat charities or create scams through opening false universities, nor do I denigrate war heroes, use illegal labour on some of my developments or grab pussy for that matter. I also have a better grasp of history then he has and realise that during the Independence War in 1776, there were no airports to surround (but then he didn't know that did he, because he is dumb!).

And if his companies employ the sort of people that are like trump, or indeed his close associates he employed in government, quite a few of whom are facing jail time, then I have absolutely no wish to be associated or compared to him or anyone like him.

And as for the USA economy, well you can keep believing his rhetoric/lies, but here is a little sobering thought for you......

 

Another TRUMP porky……We've reduced the trade deficit!

Trump really, really, really wants trade deficits to decline. But reality keeps biting. The president often seizes on one-month quirks in the numbers to make his claim, but the U.S. goods and services trade deficit in 2019 is on track to either be the highest or second-highest since 2008. That's problematic for a president who has suggested a rising trade deficit is a sign of presidential incompetence.

 

Trump also often claims that the trade deficit is going down because of "tariff money" he's collected, but that's also poppycock. The numbers are too small to make much of a difference; the tariffs would affect the deficit only by decreasing imports, not by reducing the trade-deficit figure.

 

34 minutes ago, Thomas J said:

I love how the Anti-Trump people insert his name in every action the USA takes that they view as stirring up dislike for him. 

It might have something to do with him always sticking his nose into affairs/countries that dont concern him.  Not long ago the British ask him to keep out of the Brexit affair but every news report he has a comment.

 

However I wouldnt worry about him too much because although his statements and threats cause chaos for a while he always eventually backs down.  Just keep his box of crayons away from him...easy!

6 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Strange post, but I'll try to answer some aspects of it, and so that you do understand it correctly, I have never compared myself to his accomplishments!

I certainly don't lie thousands of times, cheat charities or create scams through opening false universities, nor do I denigrate war heroes, use illegal labour on some of my developments or grab pussy for that matter. I also have a better grasp of history then he has and realise that during the Independence War in 1776, there were no airports to surround (but then he didn't know that did he, because he is dumb!).

And if his companies employ the sort of people that are like trump, or indeed his close associates he employed in government, quite a few of whom are facing jail time, then I have absolutely no wish to be associated or compared to him or anyone like him.

And as for the USA economy, well you can keep believing his rhetoric/lies, but here is a little sobering thought for you......

 

Another TRUMP porky……We've reduced the trade deficit!

Trump really, really, really wants trade deficits to decline. But reality keeps biting. The president often seizes on one-month quirks in the numbers to make his claim, but the U.S. goods and services trade deficit in 2019 is on track to either be the highest or second-highest since 2008. That's problematic for a president who has suggested a rising trade deficit is a sign of presidential incompetence.

 

Trump also often claims that the trade deficit is going down because of "tariff money" he's collected, but that's also poppycock. The numbers are too small to make much of a difference; the tariffs would affect the deficit only by decreasing imports, not by reducing the trade-deficit figure.

 

Excellent, to the point post, thank you.

So the Government ban the poisons as they are bad for your health but they still have the Tobacco monopoly.

4 hours ago, Ramdas said:

Everything’s wrong with that outlaw corrupted clown, countless faults and crimes,  he’s an existential threat, he must go ! The quicker they will get rid of him the sooner entire world will have a sign of relief..What’s left of it anyways ☹️

Yep! The biggest threat to the world is TRUMP!!!

Isn't the global community tired of being forced and threatened into compliance by this EVIL BUNT!!!

 

 

Here we go again, the nasty, twisted haters are at it again. You have a great president who is putting your country first, has stopped the wars and brought troops home. Your country is doing great yet you just keep spewing hatred. So when Trump does a Bojo in 2020 and the Dems are determined as Labour were in the UK will you still spit venom and call every e who disagrees with you stupid etc? How you forget so easy the fact that Thailand places upto 300% tax on import's, how this can own 100% of businesses in your home country and even own land and houses/property. I really pray Trump looks good and hard at Thailand. 

12 hours ago, nycjoe said:

 Monsanto is the devil.

 

100% agree, but it is an american devil, so it is part of the 'american dream'. More blackmail from the biggest bully in the world!

10 hours ago, Thomas J said:

The researchers gave the mice an inordinate amount of saccharin to produce the correlation between it and cancer.  

Anything bad is Trumps fault, anything good has nothing to do with him.

 

The TV news feed is becoming so Left wing it should have a Hammer And Sickle at the top.

Trump has never said no to a lobbyist since assuming office. Of course he is going to fight for his donors and corporate overlords. From a standpoint of ethics and morality, one can always count on the Trump administration to take the side of major corporations over people. It is all about the money. And would Thailand take a stand? With this PM? 

fOLLOW THE MONEY!

Removed a troll post.

You need to squeeze them a lot more Don

On 12/18/2019 at 1:19 PM, robblok said:

Just shows how corrupt they are in the US they are on the payroll of chemical companies. I seen the US do many bad things to the Dutch before because of our drug system and now they are decriminalizing it themselves.

 

The US is a big bully and if your not part of a big block like the EU or other trade organisations you will not be getting any good deals.

If you don't want the stuff, don't buy it. It's that simple. Don't cry about it.

Are you trying to say that if the U.S. doesn't want to be your friend you can't make it in the world?

On 12/18/2019 at 2:15 PM, Expat Brad said:

Yep! The biggest threat to the world is TRUMP!!!

Isn't the global community tired of being forced and threatened into compliance by this EVIL BUNT!!!

 

 

Can't believe how many babies are on this forum. "Everything in the world is Trump's fault". Get over yourselves.