Economy Thai Farmers Sound Alarm as US Trade Talks Threaten Local Agriculture

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Picture courtesy of THe Nation
 

Thai farmers are up in arms as trade talks with the United States hit a boiling point, fearing devastating effects on local agriculture and national food security due to US demands.

 

Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira confirmed that negotiations have stalled, with the US urging Thailand to lower tariffs on meat imports. The proposed high tariff of 36% on Thai exports starting August 1 looms unless Thailand complies.

 

Thailand has offered tariff cuts on 90% of US products but insists certain demands are excessive.

 

Sittiphan Thanakiatpinyo, President of the Swine Raiser Association, expressed grave concerns, fearing over 100,000 pig farmers could lose their livelihoods.

 

Describing the situation, Sittiphan criticised allowing cheap US pork imports, highlighting risks tied to subsidised American pork, which uses banned substances harmful to health. The potential spread of diseases like swine flu, not previously recorded in Thailand, adds to the alarm.

 

Echoing these sentiments, Dr Wiwat Pongwiwatchai of the Beef Cattle Association emphasised the challenges already faced under free trade with other countries. He warned against US beef imports, which involve banned hormones, further endangering local producers.

 

However, some see a silver lining. Somphop Eausongtham of the Thai Feed Mill Association noted potential gains for animal feed manufacturers through cheaper raw material imports, boosting production and exports.

 

Despite potential benefits in other sectors, the government remains firm in prioritising food security and protecting Thai farmers. Pichai assured the public that negotiations would continue without compromising health or livelihoods, according to The Nation.

 

With the deadline fast approaching, the stakes are high, leaving the future of Thailand's agricultural sector on tenterhooks.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-17

 

 

[MarkBR]

Thailand needs to be protected from food dumping of low quality foods.  Many banned in EU due to practices that result in lower quality -  e.g Rat hairs in processed meat products, and allowable faecal contamination (cow<deleted>) in processed meat products, bovine somatotrophin hormone in milk, etc.

There are good foods from USA -  cheeses from Wisconsin, Massachusetts & New England in general.  Grass-fed beef of free range cattle from many ranches is of very high quality, for example.

[KhaoHom]

This is absurd. Thailand can import feed corn, wheat etc agriculture that helps not hurts the farmers and consumers. Beef for consumers while Thai beef improves (with feed corn). That's what fair trade is about

 

No county can compete with pork and chicken here. It's practically free.

 

One thing certain...the day of reckoning coming FAST and Thailand better know precisely what it wants for the next decade....

 

None of this matters anyway. Purchases won't rebalance trade. The problem lies with Chinese factories in Thailand repackaging goods. Thai Examiner has excellent article on this.

[Tailwagsdog]

If food labelling becomes compulsory with disclosure of additives like hormones and source of product then most people will buy local & clean. By the way, corn fed cattle are not prime beef, cows are ruminants and can only handle carefully managed corn, grain .(alkaline diets)...

[John Drake]

The largest US pork producer is Smithfield Foods. It is also the largest US exporter of pork products. The Chinese own Smithfield Foods.

[hotchilli]

Thailand has to finally understand what free trade means.

[GreasyFingers]

Are there any Americans here that know what the price of pork is in the USA. Cannot fathom how they could manufacture, freight and sell less than the price of local pork.

[MarkBR]

3 hours ago, Tailwagsdog said:

If food labelling becomes compulsory with disclosure of additives like hormones and source of product then most people will buy local & clean. By the way, corn fed cattle are not prime beef, cows are ruminants and can only handle carefully managed corn, grain .(alkaline diets)...

Ruminants are adapted to eating high cellulose diets e.g. grass not seeds (aka maize kernels) - fully agree corn-fed cattle are not prime beef. Maize feed beef is bland.

Main issue, as you point out is additives, hormones & other allowances (rat hair, faecal bacterial allowances which degrades the quality of certain US foods).  USA has some amazingly high quality food if you look carefully.   

[newbee2022]

10 hours ago, MarkBR said:

There are good foods from USA -  cheeses from Wisconsin, Massachusetts & New England in general.  Grass-fed beef of free range cattle from many ranches is of very high quality, for example

Too expensive for Thailand

[chawbdurian]

Could this be the start of cheaper beef burgers in Thailand?