File photo for reference only

 

BANGKOK - The Deputy Director-General of the Customs Department, Yutana Phoolpipat, announced a hefty reduction in import duties on over 10,000 items from the United States. This sweeping change, aligning with the US tax policy agreement, is set to roll out by 2025. The expected revenue loss for the Thai government is a staggering 8 billion baht in the 2026 fiscal year.

 

Currently, Thailand collects around 20 billion baht annually from US import duties. The new tax cut could slash almost half of this revenue. “We anticipate losing nearly 50% of our annual import duty revenue from the US,” Yutana stated, underlining the significant financial impact.

 

Additionally, the requirement for local content in production is forecasted to rise from 40% to 50%, as demanded by the US. Despite potential challenges, the department believes businesses can adapt efficiently. Early coordination with producers aims to facilitate this transition, potentially boosting both the manufacturing sector and national economy over time, reported by The Nation.

 

To further strengthen the system, the Customs Department is teaming up with the Department of Foreign Trade to scrutinise more than 80 high-risk items in transhipment and transit. Certificates of origin will be issued by the Ministry of Commerce, while Customs plans to speed up random checks on imports and exports, focusing especially on products tagged as Made in Thailand.

 

Looking ahead, the 2025 fiscal year has a new revenue target of 112 billion baht, adjusted for the evolving economic landscape and the rise in electric vehicle imports. Despite these significant changes, this policy shift has led to a revenue collection dip. However, the department remains optimistic about tracking and adjusting to the US tax policy impacts on future revenue for 2026.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-08-29

 

The free ride is over. King trump has spoken

Good thing by Trump, if that will Stop some over zealous customs officers at arrivals in Bangkok Airport who are eager to pull over foreigners and see how they can extort cash on some absurd made up rule regarding the contents in the luggage. 

nice to see the thais dancing to someone elses tune... Good job Don

2 minutes ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

Good thing by Trump, if that will Stop some over zealous customs officers at arrivals in Bangkok Airport who are eager to pull over foreigners and see how they can extort cash on some absurd made up rule regarding the contents in the luggage. 

You have some examples of that happening other than on booze or fags?

Most likely, Thais will not use the 50% reduction in import tax to pass the savings to the people buying those products. Instead they will maintain their normal pricing and pocket the extra. So only the Thai government loses in this deal. The people will not benefit from this at all. 

8 minutes ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

Good thing by Trump, if that will Stop some over zealous customs officers at arrivals in Bangkok Airport who are eager to pull over foreigners and see how they can extort cash on some absurd made up rule regarding the contents in the luggage. 

 

Because that happens all the time lol 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

Like never in 35 years 

Good news if this will slash prices say for Apple products by no less then 10% price decrease . If not, one can complain to Trump to inform that Thailand is levering far to much tax on US products..😆

Oh dear....the Trump haters in Thailand will be fuming thatches caused another success!

1 minute ago, thesetat said:

Most likely, Thais will not use the 50% reduction in import tax to pass the savings to the people buying those products. Instead they will maintain their normal pricing and pocket the extra. So only the Thai government loses in this deal. The people will not benefit from this at all. 

 

Hard to say. Probably correct though.

 

 

 

Get rid of that crap Oz beef ffs. No fat in the meat, but the cut is surrounded by it. Lamb is really mutton. Highly overrated on all but highest end beef.

 

Hopefully, US wine, bourbon, ice cream, bulk cheese, dairy, raisins, avocados, cherries, apricot, vitamins, apparel, Teslas

Didn't the Thai people know that they are paying the import duties on good from outside Thailand.

14 minutes ago, SingAPorn said:

Good news if this will slash prices say for Apple products by no less then 10% price decrease . If not, one can complain to Trump to inform that Thailand is levering far to much tax on US products..😆

 

Customs duties are normally levied based upon the country in which the product and its components are manufactured. Since few Apple products are made in the US, this won't have much effect on the price of Apple products.

11 minutes ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

 

Customs duties are normally levied based upon the country in which the product and its components are manufactured. Since few Apple products are made in the US, this won't have much effect on the price of Apple products.

very true. In that case one could bet that Washington will go the extra mile to put pressure on major US brands to shut down their Chinese and Asian production lines and bring back as much as possible to the production facilites in America.  That is anyhow on Trump's agenda as he mentioned during the previous election campaign. 

34 minutes ago, KhaoHom said:

 

Because that happens all the time lol

 

Like never in 35 years 

 

It's happened to me twice.  Both times justified, though.  Fishing tackle, of all things.

 

31 minutes ago, SingAPorn said:

very true. In that case one could bet that Washington will go the extra mile to put pressure on major US brands to shut down their Chinese and Asian production lines and bring back as much as possible to the production facilites in America.  That is anyhow on Trump's agenda as he mentioned during the previous election campaign. 

 

Not going to happen in any meaningful way for a number of reasons. The US already has a labor shortage with unemployment around 4%, well within the benchmark range for full employment.

 

The main purpose of the tariffs is to place a new tax on average Americans so that the 0.1% can have tax breaks.

 

A number of manufacturing companies in the US have laid off workers at least in part due to Trump's tariffs including John Deere, Stellantis, Cleveland Cliffs, and others. Some kind of winning, eh?

Finally this gready country get what they deserve.

Oh dear, big discounts on iHerb coming 🙄 

Ready to buy Velveeta at half off, now.

Why should america allow goods from all over the world with previously almost no tax leverage, when you see how expensive imported goods are in Thailand or many other countries in the ares ? 

14 hours ago, webfact said:

on over 10,000 items from the United States

 

I would love to see this list. anyone have a link to it?

 

CA wine?

The Trump tariffs is "just a tax on Americans" dying a thousand deaths, yet strangely none of the false narrative pushers are here to acknowledge their error.

Trump tariffs = a negotiating marvel proven time and time again. Enjoy cheaper US imports in Thailand.

No doubt all the old American Lib socialists will be complaining if fine Californian wine is suddenly free flowing at the boy bars in Pattaya at a reasonable price. 

18 hours ago, norsurin said:

Finally this gready country get what they deserve.

 

This is so petty and ignorant 

 

gready 🤣

On 8/29/2025 at 3:06 AM, thesetat said:

Most likely, Thais will not use the 50% reduction in import tax to pass the savings to the people buying those products. Instead they will maintain their normal pricing and pocket the extra. So only the Thai government loses in this deal. The people will not benefit from this at all. 

That's not how markets work. It depends on the product, but those easier to import will definitely see price cuts due to competition. For higher end items or those with exclusive importers price cuts are likely to be lower, but keep in mind that lower prices means more quantity in sales, so the smart ones will lower prices slightly to sell more and get more total revenue and profit. Also any item which can be self-imported will require importers to lower prices or people will just order from overseas.

 

Anyway- great news, and great going Trump! Now the question is: which actual items? Really wish booze is on the list as Thailand's ridiculous ~400% import taxes on it is... ridiculous.

On 8/29/2025 at 6:16 AM, angryguy said:

The free ride is over. King trump has spoken

Kiss the Ring,say what!

On 8/29/2025 at 7:20 PM, proton said:

CA wine?

I bought two bottles of Robert Mondavi Cab Sauv for the occasion .

15 hours ago, JonnyF said:

No doubt all the old American Lib socialists will be complaining if fine Californian wine is suddenly free flowing at the boy bars in Pattaya at a reasonable price. 

Whats a boy bar, Mate ?

17 minutes ago, riclag said:

Whats a boy bar, Mate ?

The homosexual bars where the majority but not all of the leftists frequent as an expat or tourist.

 

 

Another win for Trump!  And a leftist prediction failed.