Thailand Responds to US Trade Tariffs: Seeking Negotiation

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

In a significant economic development, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra issued a formal statement regarding the United States' latest trade tariffs, particularly impacting Thailand. The US, under President Donald Trump, has implemented a 36% import tariff on Thai goods as part of broader reciprocal trade measures.

 

This new policy, announced during the Liberation Day event, aims to address global trade imbalances by imposing a minimum 10% tariff on all imports, with higher rates for nations like Thailand that run trade surpluses with the US. For Thailand, this marks one of the highest tariff rates among ASEAN countries.

 

Thailand's government expressed an understanding of the US's rationale but emphasised the substantial impact these tariffs will have on US consumer purchasing power as well as Thai exporters. In response, Thailand is actively preparing to reduce dependency on the US market and seek new trading partners.

 

 

 

A notable feature of Thailand's response includes a readiness to engage in dialogue with the US to adjust trade balances equitably. Plans are underway for negotiations aimed at minimising impacts on farmers and businesses while promoting joint ventures in high-potential industries.

 

Thailand is also exploring long-term strategic adjustments, such as enhancing competitiveness through production restructuring and cost reduction. This approach is intended to bolster Thailand's role in mutually beneficial investments with the US, looking towards a stable and cooperative economic future.

 

In summary, Thailand is keen on fostering long-term trade stability with the US and is prepared to work collaboratively to mitigate the impacts of these tariffs through constructive negotiations, reported The Nation.

 

-- 2025-04-04

 

 

[Jingthing]

Trump doesn't want negotiation. 

He wants to replace income taxes with tariffs as much as possible.

if he cuts deals and ends tariffs, that goal can't be met.

Yes, the policy is insane.

[Tropicalevo]

Dear PM

Poetic justice for a country that has imposed tariffs on imports - for ever.

Please remind us what the tariff is on bringing a car into Thailand.

[ukrules]

Just watch Vietnam, Cambodia, etc reduce their tariffs to this new 10% 'minimum' and reap all the rewards.

As the manufacturing companies all flee to whichever country does it first will they then act - or will it already be too late?

[davidpoykan]

16 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Trump doesn't want negotiation. 

He wants to replace income taxes with tariffs as much as possible.

if he cuts deals and ends tariffs, that goal can't be met.

Yes, the policy is insane.

Perhaps you should take your time to find out what extremely high tariffs Thailand charges the US on certain projects and then bite your tongue!!!!

[newbee2022]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

File photo for reference only

 

In a significant economic development, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra issued a formal statement regarding the United States' latest trade tariffs, particularly impacting Thailand. The US, under President Donald Trump, has implemented a 36% import tariff on Thai goods as part of broader reciprocal trade measures.

 

This new policy, announced during the Liberation Day event, aims to address global trade imbalances by imposing a minimum 10% tariff on all imports, with higher rates for nations like Thailand that run trade surpluses with the US. For Thailand, this marks one of the highest tariff rates among ASEAN countries.

 

Thailand's government expressed an understanding of the US's rationale but emphasised the substantial impact these tariffs will have on US consumer purchasing power as well as Thai exporters. In response, Thailand is actively preparing to reduce dependency on the US market and seek new trading partners.

 

 

 

A notable feature of Thailand's response includes a readiness to engage in dialogue with the US to adjust trade balances equitably. Plans are underway for negotiations aimed at minimising impacts on farmers and businesses while promoting joint ventures in high-potential industries.

 

Thailand is also exploring long-term strategic adjustments, such as enhancing competitiveness through production restructuring and cost reduction. This approach is intended to bolster Thailand's role in mutually beneficial investments with the US, looking towards a stable and cooperative economic future.

 

In summary, Thailand is keen on fostering long-term trade stability with the US and is prepared to work collaboratively to mitigate the impacts of these tariffs through constructive negotiations, reported The Nation.

 

-- 2025-04-04

 

 

Improvements in trading with ASEAN members, and EU would be a "plus", instead of licking boots in Washington.

[Jingthing]

6 minutes ago, davidpoykan said:

Perhaps you should take your time to find out what extremely high tariffs Thailand charges the US on certain projects and then bite your tongue!!!!

The number Trump came up has nothing to do with Thailand's tariff rates. It's a fornula based on trade imbalance only. Not the same thing at all. Normally countries that use tariffs in sane ways vs. Trump's all out trade world with the world (except for Russia, North Korea, etc,) target the targets to very specific industries, not overall tariff rates for everything.

[thesetat]

16 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Trump doesn't want negotiation. 

He wants to replace income taxes with tariffs as much as possible.

if he cuts deals and ends tariffs, that goal can't be met.

Yes, the policy is insane.

Wow... another reactive hate Trump post by you. 

Trump has stated many times that these tariffs are to balance the trade between nations. Because currently, the US loses on every trade deal. 

Your comment is more insane than the policy. 

 

I hope since Thailand recognizes the trade imbalance and wishes to stabilize it so both countries have equal trade, that other countries follow suit rather than get pissy and try to made trade wars. 

[Jingthing]

6 minutes ago, thesetat said:

Wow... another reactive hate Trump post by you. 

Trump has stated many times that these tariffs are to balance the trade between nations. Because currently, the US loses on every trade deal. 

Your comment is more insane than the policy. 

 

I hope since Thailand recognizes the trade imbalance and wishes to stabilize it so both countries have equal trade, that other countries follow suit rather than get pissy and try to made trade wars. 

Total idiocy. 
So the US should sell as much coffee to Colombia as Colombia sells to the U.S.?

Trade imbalances aren't good or bad per se.

They are very dependent on the specifics.

Trump's tariff formula which he les to the American people as being based on tariff rates which it is not is indeed totally insane and basically a massive tax increase on non-billionaire Americans. This can't be defended.

[NoDisplayName]

10 minutes ago, thesetat said:

Wow... another reactive hate Trump post by you. 

Trump has stated many times that these tariffs are to balance the trade between nations. Because currently, the US loses on every trade deal. 

Your comment is more insane than the policy. 

 

I hope since Thailand recognizes the trade imbalance and wishes to stabilize it so both countries have equal trade, that other countries follow suit rather than get pissy and try to made trade wars. 

 

But only the trade in manufactured goods.

 

He conveniently leaves out the services component of trade in which the US has surpluses with many of these same nations.

[Yagoda]

Winning. Another one crawls to the table

[Colki]

thesetat if your statement is correct could you please comment on the Australian situation whereby USA exports to Australia far more than they import from Australia.

[spidermike007]

Well thank you Donald for taking this meeting, first of all I would like to start off by saying that your are clinically insane, and we have offered to sponsor psychiatric treatment to help you to deal with all the issues that you've been carrying with you since you were a child.

 

It might really help with  negotiations, because if we were dealing with a sane and rational human being it would really help to establish some sort of rational consensus here. And we would be doing a good deed because we could end up saving the world in the process. 

 

 

[BigBilly]

18 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Trump doesn't want negotiation. 

He wants to replace income taxes with tariffs as much as possible.

if he cuts deals and ends tariffs, that goal can't be met.

Yes, the policy is insane.

 

Trump does want negotiation.  But he wants it so he can get special benefits and kickbacks for himself.

 

You have to remember Trumps only goals are to screw over as many people he hates as possible, and to collect as much money for himself as possible.  These tarrifs accomplish both goals.  

[Thaindrew]

1 hour ago, davidpoykan said:

Perhaps you should take your time to find out what extremely high tariffs Thailand charges the US on certain projects and then bite your tongue!!!!

the average Thailand charges on imports is sub 10%, Trumps "reciprocal" tariff is +34% ... he needs to look up what reciprocal means

[Ralf001]

18 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

.

Please remind us what the tariff is on bringing a car into Thailand.

 

Import tax is 80%.

[captain_shane]

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

The number Trump came up has nothing to do with Thailand's tariff rates. It's a fornula based on trade imbalance only. Not the same thing at all. Normally countries that use tariffs in sane ways vs. Trump's all out trade world with the world (except for Russia, North Korea, etc,) target the targets to very specific industries, not overall tariff rates for everything.

Blah blah blah. Do you just sit on here and seethe about trump all day every single day? He came up with the rates to try and zero out trade deficits, that's the entire point. Why don't you get a gf or something instead of sitting on here posting about US politics all day when you have such bad takes as it is?

[captain_shane]

1 hour ago, Colki said:

thesetat if your statement is correct could you please comment on the Australian situation whereby USA exports to Australia far more than they import from Australia.

It's called a privilege tax for being able to participate in the largest consumer economy in the world. Don't like it? Sell to the Chinese.

[Watawattana]

1 hour ago, Thaindrew said:

the average Thailand charges on imports is sub 10%, Trumps "reciprocal" tariff is +34% ... he needs to look up what reciprocal means

Here's a list I found - it's quite long and a bit old.

 

https://www.asean.org/wp-content/uploads/images/2012/Economic/AEM/document/22692.pdf

 

A more detailed search that may be more up to date.  I searched on vehicles the rates differ from one type to another.  Also pork & chicken (Thais protecting their farmers.)

http://itd.customs.go.th/igtf/en/main_frame.jsp

 

[IsaanGuy]

She should wait a little while before doing anything, or like Macron suggested review all trade and stop investment in America.

In a month the US will be in crisis as the prices go up and jobs are lost because of his ridiculous tariff’s and he’ll be under pressure to fix it.

[Colki]

Captain-Shane it is that arrogance got trillions ripped out of the share market since inauguration day and over two trillion in the last two days.

 

Australia already sends billions of goods to China, it is called world trade. They China are in fact Australias biggest trade partner.

[digger70]

20 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Dear PM

Poetic justice for a country that has imposed tariffs on imports - for ever.

Please remind us what the tariff is on bringing a car into Thailand.

People also ask

How much does it cost to import a car into Thailand?

To import your car, it must, in fact, be stamped "classic car" (old car and/or collection). High customs duties (between 187% and 315% of the car's value) will also need to be added to this.

 

 

You cannot import used cars to Thailand unless you are an expat coming in on a work permit and you've owned the vehicle for at least 2 years. Taxes will be between 200-300% of the value depending on the engine capacity and the horsepower.Jul 29, 2564 

 

BEWhat is the import duty on cars in Thailand?

You will have to achieve a sizable paperwork, no matter of the type of vehicle and purpose of this import. Depending on the time you need your vehicle to stay in the territory of Thailand, you can be dutiable to pay zero to 200% of the value of your vehicle.

What is the cost to import a car from USA?

 

For cars, those exceeding a CIF value of US Dollars 40,000 incur a 100% customs tax, while those below US Dollars 40,000 face a 60% import duty. Used vehicles attract a 125% tax. On the other hand, bikes may require payment of approximately 116% of the CIF value as import duty.

[vinny41]

2 hours ago, Watawattana said:

Here's a list I found - it's quite long and a bit old.

 

https://www.asean.org/wp-content/uploads/images/2012/Economic/AEM/document/22692.pdf

 

A more detailed search that may be more up to date.  I searched on vehicles the rates differ from one type to another.  Also pork & chicken (Thais protecting their farmers.)

http://itd.customs.go.th/igtf/en/main_frame.jsp

 

USTR Releases 2025 National Trade Estimate Report

March 31, 2025

WASHINGTON — Today, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) submitted the 2025 National Trade Estimate (NTE) to President Trump and Congress. The NTE is an annual report detailing foreign trade barriers faced by U.S. exporters and USTR’s efforts to reduce those barriers.
Thailand Page 339 of report

https://ustr.gov/about/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2025/march/ustr-releases-2025-national-trade-estimate-report

 which effectively prevents the importation of U.S. pork products.

Thailand has banned U.S. turkey meat imports since late 2014. 

“processed foods made or derived from animal carcass,” including sausage, salami, ham, bacon, smoked meat products, pickled meat products, cured meat products, honey and related products, and salty/processed eggs and egg yolks.  Other than a single product approved in early 2022, DLD has not approved any new processed meat products.

[Gknrd]

Hopefully all manufacturing destined to the US will move out of Thailand. 

At this point Vietnam would gladly take over the Thai manufacturing. 

 

[bamnutsak]

34 minutes ago, Gknrd said:

Hopefully all manufacturing destined to the US will move out of Thailand. 

At this point Vietnam would gladly take over the Thai manufacturing. 

 

 

 

AFAIK, Vietnam is at the 46% rate, while Thailand is at 36%.

 

Vietnam has already had a call to trump to get a lower rate, but no changes mentioned yet.

[vinny41]

4 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

 

 

AFAIK, Vietnam is at the 46% rate, while Thailand is at 36%.

 

Vietnam has already had a call to trump to get a lower rate, but no changes mentioned yet.

Vietnam is sending Deputy PM Phớc is scheduled to visit the US and Cuba from April 6 to 14, aiming to discuss and negotiate on trade matters.

Vietnam wants to be the 1st asean countries to have tariffs lowered to 10% tariff  as that would give Vietnam a competitive edge over other asean countries