Economy Trump's Tariff Troubles: Thai Academic Sounds Alarm on Key Issues

[webfact]

PIcture courtesy of Thai Rath

 

In a dramatic development, a leading Thai academic is urging citizens to pay close attention to the unfolding negotiations regarding President Donald Trump's aggressive 36% tariff, which is set to hit Thai exports.

 

The imminent deadline of August 1st puts the country in a precarious position, demanding transparency and public scrutiny. Dr. Suriyasai Katasila, dean of Rangsit University’s College of Social Innovation, has issued a stark warning about the potential economic and sovereign repercussions for Thailand.

 

The US presents the tariff as a remedy for its ongoing trade deficit with Thailand, and it is not merely a matter of international trade. Dr. Suriyasai points out that it involves deep strategic negotiations that could potentially reshape Thailand’s economic structure, production base, labour force, and policy sovereignty. He stresses the importance of understanding that these discussions transcend the immediate trade deficit narrative.

 

With the final phase of negotiations underway, uncertainties prevail regarding what Thailand might be compelled to concede to achieve a deferral or reduction of the punitive tariff. This situation is branded as critical, as the stakes involve not just economic adjustments but issues of national independence and strategy.

 

Dr. Suriyasai highlights three key areas that demand public attention. Firstly, what will Thailand offer in return for tariff mitigation? There are concerns about whether an opening of the domestic market for goods and services could occur, potentially impacting local economies.

 

Secondly, will the negotiations lead to secret pacts or exclusive advantages for foreign corporations? This possibility has raised alarms, prompting calls for the government to conduct the process transparently. Finally, can this challenge be turned into a chance for Thailand to re-evaluate and potentially transform its long-term trade policies?

 

The crux of the academic’s warning is that the public should not be sidelined in these critical discussions. The negotiations must not culminate in undisclosed agreements that could pose long-term disadvantages for Thailand. The call is for vigilance and active participation from citizens, the media, and policy watchers alike to ensure accountability and transparency.

 

Dr. Suriyasai underscores that this situation is more than just about countering a 36% tariff; it is a defining moment for Thailand’s global presence. The nation’s ability to confront these challenges with openness and integrity will determine whether it can maintain its dignity and independence on the world stage.

 

The coming days are crucial, and the outcome of these negotiations may set a precedent for how Thailand navigates international economic challenges in the future. The drive for transparency and public engagement is essential to safeguard the country's interests and ensure that its policies reflect the collective will and benefit of its people.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai Newsroom 2025-07-14

 

 

[impulse]

I guess the biggest question is whether Thailand will actually make stuff, or just repackage stuff.

 

[thesetat]

39 minutes ago, impulse said:

I guess the biggest question is whether Thailand will actually make stuff, or just repackage stuff.

 

For the time being, Trump is being strict about using imports to Vietnam being repacked and relabeled and sent to the USA under the guise of being made in Vietnam. I would think that the US would also implement this policy with Thailand as well. It is too easy for Asian countries to get Chinese goods and repack them claiming to be made in their country. Also, depending on the size of the tariff, it may not be worthwhile to do this and there may be an inability to profit from it. 

[Quentin Zen]

Economy

Treasury posts unexpected surplus in June as tariff receipts surge

Key Points

• With government red ink swelling throughout the year, June saw a surplus of just over $27 billion, following a $316 billion deficit in May

[SLOWHAND225]

19 minutes ago, Quentin Zen said:

Economy

Treasury posts unexpected surplus in June as tariff receipts surge

Key Points

• With government red ink swelling throughout the year, June saw a surplus of just over $27 billion, following a $316 billion deficit in May

How can this be ? All the Anti Americans said that couldn't happen, that it wasn't possible.  We were gonna die. lol
 

They told us that from the safety of their moms basement !

[Card]

48 minutes ago, SLOWHAND225 said:

How can this be ? All the Anti Americans said that couldn't happen, that it wasn't possible.  We were gonna die. lol
 

They told us that from the safety of their moms basement !

Jeez. What real people said wasn't that it couldn't happen, but it wouldn't be the Chinese exporters who pay for it but the American consumer. That HAS happened.

[koolkarl]

Thailand imposes tariffs on imports from US, far higher than 35%.  Now you have an idea why Thailand joined OECD and along with that the

CRS which eventually will drive the wealthy foreigners out of Thailand for good.

[corepuncher]

Thailands tariffs are mostly 30-50% and 60% on beer.
https://th.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/Import-Tariff-Table_Thailand-Update-June-2024.pdf

[reflectionx]

48 minutes ago, SLOWHAND225 said:

How can this be ? All the Anti Americans said that couldn't happen, that it wasn't possible.  We were gonna die. lol
 

They told us that from the safety of their moms basement !

The Treasury Department noted that the month benefited from calendar adjustments, without which the deficit would have been $70 billion.

 

Also:

Receipts from corporate income taxes decreased by $26 billion (or 7 percent)

[mfd101]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The nation’s ability to confront these challenges with openness and integrity will determine whether it can maintain its dignity and independence on the world stage.

Indeed. Though not holding my breath.

[technoronin]

Whenever an academic criticizes President Trump I just remember they are an academic.  The entire "ivory tower" crowd hates Trump and will say anything to tear him down,  It's part of their culture.

[novanova]

Trump is an oaf who doesn't understand high school-level economics. That's why every economist in the world (who is not a paid DT shill) is laughing at him.

 

DT has a bizarre obsession with trade deficits. This has no basis in reality. If I shop at the supermarket, there is a trade deficit - they have my money. But I have the goods... where is the unfairness? It doesn't exist.

 

The stupidity of DT's position can be seen in the Botswana tariffs. Their big export is diamonds. The big buyer is the US. Somehow, DT sees this as a great injustice, so he hit then with a 37% tariff. This is flat-out irrational, and everybody should stop pretending there is any sense behind DT's actions.

[impulse]

12 minutes ago, corepuncher said:

Thailands tariffs are mostly 30-50% and 60% on beer.
https://th.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/Import-Tariff-Table_Thailand-Update-June-2024.pdf

 

That's good info, but all I see is food.  How about the 80% tariff on cars, added to the other fees that basically triple the landed cost of a US car into Thailand?

 

[impulse]

2 minutes ago, novanova said:

If I shop at the supermarket, there is a trade deficit - they have my money. But I have the goods... where is the unfairness? It doesn't exist.

 

I'd refrain from commenting if that was my level of understanding of global trade.

 

[Hakuna Matata]

2 hours ago, impulse said:

I guess the biggest question is whether Thailand will actually make stuff, or just repackage stuff.

 

 

Repackaging and reexporting goods made in Laos will allow to save 4%? I don't think so.

[Aussie999]

1 hour ago, SLOWHAND225 said:

How can this be ? All the Anti Americans said that couldn't happen, that it wasn't possible.  We were gonna die. lol
 

They told us that from the safety of their moms basement !

But it's the Americans that paid the tariffs...no-one else

[Aussie999]

30 minutes ago, corepuncher said:

Thailands tariffs are mostly 30-50% and 60% on beer.
https://th.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/Import-Tariff-Table_Thailand-Update-June-2024.pdf

300% on motor vehicle/motor bikes

[AhFarangJa]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The crux of the academic’s warning is that the public should not be sidelined in these critical discussions

I have lived here for over 30 years, and cannot remember one time when the public where consulted on anything. Even their election votes are ignored, so what chance they will be informed about trade tariffs, thanks to the education system how many even know what a trade tariff is, and where America is, let alone who is their president. The top rich 1% run this country for their own benefits, they will continue to leech of the system, keep the Baht at a false high, all in order to grab more.

[novanova]

20 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

I'd refrain from commenting if that was my level of understanding of global trade.

 

 

Nobel-prize-winning economists (and many others) are using that example. Maybe they have no understanding of global trade. 

 

Read this: https://time.com/7274651/why-economists-are-horrified-by-trump-tariff-math/

 

You might learn something.

[tonypattaya]

The big takeaway from this is that America can never be trusted again. Not wishing to teach my grandmother to suck eggs, Thailand must now look for new trading partners for its exports.

[spidermike007]

One thing is certain. He is accomplishing very little, he will NOT bring manufacturing back to America, which is stupid over priced (I am here now and inflation is raging at 20% or higher right now), he is causing alot of pain, he is losing support, destroying businesses, and consumer confidence, he does not have a coherent plan, and he is a destructive nimwit. 

 

It is about showing what he can get away with. It’s about showing his enemies that what they support, he can tear down. It is all about displays of brute strength. He gets off on that, and in that sense, it seems not so much an autocracy but a flexocracy. Let me show you how I can flex my bicep as I use it to power my fist coming into your face.

 

Trump’s idea of power. If I can destroy, if I can defile and march on relatively unscathed and unpunished, that makes me powerful. Other people can’t get away with it, but that’s how dominant and superior I am.

 

 

 

 

 

[WEBBYB808]

11 minutes ago, AhFarangJa said:

I have lived here for over 30 years, and cannot remember one time when the public where consulted on anything. Even their election votes are ignored, so what chance they will be informed about trade tariffs, thanks to the education system how many even know what a trade tariff is, and where America is, let alone who is their president. The top rich 1% run this country for their own benefits, they will continue to leech of the system, keep the Baht at a false high, all in order to grab more.

That is a good question.  I wanted to ask the same.  What can a citizen do?

[jippytum]

 The Thaksin led government  are not known for openness or transparency. 

[impulse]

17 minutes ago, novanova said:

 

Nobel-prize-winning economists (and many others) are using that example. Maybe they have no understanding of global trade. 

 

Read this: https://time.com/7274651/why-economists-are-horrified-by-trump-tariff-math/

 

You might learn something.

 

It's Time magazine.  They're trying to explain it to people with a 4th grade reading level who catch up on their news sitting on the crapper.  But you go ahead and keep parroting it if you want.  That makes you one of the "many others"

 

Edit:  And I didn't even mention Time's tendency to indoctrinate readers as opposed to educating them.

 

[WEBBYB808]

8 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

One thing is certain. He is accomplishing very little, he will NOT bring manufacturing back to America, which is stupid over priced (I am here now and inflation is raging at 20% or higher right now), he is causing alot of pain, he is losing support, destroying businesses, and consumer confidence, he does not have a coherent plan, and he is a destructive nimwit. 

 

It is about showing what he can get away with. It’s about showing his enemies that what they support, he can tear down. It is all about displays of brute strength. He gets off on that, and in that sense, it seems not so much an autocracy but a flexocracy. Let me show you how I can flex my bicep as I use it to power my fist coming into your face.

 

Trump’s idea of power. If I can destroy, if I can defile and march on relatively unscathed and unpunished, that makes me powerful. Other people can’t get away with it, but that’s how dominant and superior I am.

 

 

 

 

 

He's just old school American.  He's just being true to who he is.  He is an Alpha male, true.  The thing is, he's a modern cowboy.   If he does something not in compliance with his office, he will be thrown under the bus by the Dems, and sassy people, he always is an open book.  He plays by elite rules.  He is American!

[SanSaiExPat]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

PIcture courtesy of Thai Rath

 

In a dramatic development, a leading Thai academic is urging citizens to pay close attention to the unfolding negotiations regarding President Donald Trump's aggressive 36% tariff, which is set to hit Thai exports.

 

The imminent deadline of August 1st puts the country in a precarious position, demanding transparency and public scrutiny. Dr. Suriyasai Katasila, dean of Rangsit University’s College of Social Innovation, has issued a stark warning about the potential economic and sovereign repercussions for Thailand.

 

The US presents the tariff as a remedy for its ongoing trade deficit with Thailand, and it is not merely a matter of international trade. Dr. Suriyasai points out that it involves deep strategic negotiations that could potentially reshape Thailand’s economic structure, production base, labour force, and policy sovereignty. He stresses the importance of understanding that these discussions transcend the immediate trade deficit narrative.

 

With the final phase of negotiations underway, uncertainties prevail regarding what Thailand might be compelled to concede to achieve a deferral or reduction of the punitive tariff. This situation is branded as critical, as the stakes involve not just economic adjustments but issues of national independence and strategy.

 

Dr. Suriyasai highlights three key areas that demand public attention. Firstly, what will Thailand offer in return for tariff mitigation? There are concerns about whether an opening of the domestic market for goods and services could occur, potentially impacting local economies.

 

Secondly, will the negotiations lead to secret pacts or exclusive advantages for foreign corporations? This possibility has raised alarms, prompting calls for the government to conduct the process transparently. Finally, can this challenge be turned into a chance for Thailand to re-evaluate and potentially transform its long-term trade policies?

 

The crux of the academic’s warning is that the public should not be sidelined in these critical discussions. The negotiations must not culminate in undisclosed agreements that could pose long-term disadvantages for Thailand. The call is for vigilance and active participation from citizens, the media, and policy watchers alike to ensure accountability and transparency.

 

Dr. Suriyasai underscores that this situation is more than just about countering a 36% tariff; it is a defining moment for Thailand’s global presence. The nation’s ability to confront these challenges with openness and integrity will determine whether it can maintain its dignity and independence on the world stage.

 

The coming days are crucial, and the outcome of these negotiations may set a precedent for how Thailand navigates international economic challenges in the future. The drive for transparency and public engagement is essential to safeguard the country's interests and ensure that its policies reflect the collective will and benefit of its people.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai Newsroom 2025-07-14

 

 

This isn't a clarion call ..."for transparency and public engagement to safeguard the country's interests and ensure that its policies reflect the collective will and benefit of its people."  It's hidden agenda is to sabotage any talks and agreements.  The professor knows damn well that any agreements that must meet with public approval will never be made in time to meet the August deadline.  These types of agreements, have always been carried out by each country's diplomatic corps and trade bureaucrats.   Now is not the time to fall in love with democratic rule, "by the people" in a country that has seen little democracy over the last 500+ years.

[WEBBYB808]

12 minutes ago, tonypattaya said:

The big takeaway from this is that America can never be trusted again. Not wishing to teach my grandmother to suck eggs, Thailand must now look for new trading partners for its exports.

So matching the tariffs of the other country isn't fair?  I'm just trying to be clear and understand.   So, you're hinting that it's wrong to charge the other country, what they charge the other?  Correct?

[jaywalker-2]

56 minutes ago, SLOWHAND225 said:

How can this be ? All the Anti Americans said that couldn't happen, that it wasn't possible.  We were gonna die. lol
 

They told us that from the safety of their moms basement !

 

Funny how us USA Patriots saw Donald Trump for what he was in 2016 & everybody else HATED him becaise of the media.

 

Funny how EVERYBODY on this forumm HATED Trump & wanted Hillary. Morons. Now that it's cool to like Tump the conversation goes the other way.

 

ANY body with a half-functioning brain shoould have seen that, "Huh? He's a pretty smart guy".

.reat

I grew up as the son of a timber contractor in the swamps of Florida in the 1970's & here's a New Yorker talking some sense.Funny how EVERYBODY on this forum HATED Trump a few years back, & now EVERYBODY still hates him...but he has done some good things.

 

I DO NOT LIKE the Man! He's an arrogant prick! Yet he is The POTUS.

 

Likiing a great Commander-in-Chief of my military???

 

I HATED MANY of my officers in the US Army....but I followed orders, under the US Constitution.

 

The guy is an A**hole but I swore to folow his orders. Be it the Commander in Chief or some 2nd Lieutenant.

 

I HATED my Lt's in the Army. I kept many of them alive. "Sir don't do that".

 

In the end it comes down to Communist vs. Capitalism.

 

Either go thu Mao's GREAT LEAP FORWARD, Stalin's PURGE, or Pol Pot's experimemt.

 

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!.........for the Contitution on the United States of America

 

. It's just a few pages long. I think it's 4 pages?

 

Guess what? IT'S THE LAW.

[impulse]

28 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

But it's the Americans that paid the tariffs...no-one else

 

And your point would be?

[garzhe]

1 hour ago, SLOWHAND225 said:

How can this be ? All the Anti Americans said that couldn't happen, that it wasn't possible.  We were gonna die. lol
 

They told us that from the safety of their moms basement !

Do Trump and his supporters not understand tariffs? All that has happened is the government collected tariffs from American importers, which are then passed on to consumers. Some of that was returned to consumers through tax cuts, most of which will benefit the highest earners.