Free Trade With Australia

[hansje1980]

I read that not only the EU in 2015 will be free trade. But Australia already this year.

I was wondering if this is true, if it is does this mean I can simply buy a used car from Australia and get it into Thailand without the 300% tax? No matter if its 1 car or more?

Thanks

[IMHO]

The free trade agreement with Australia has been in effect since 2005, and allows for New, Australian Manufactured cars of 3000cc or larger capacity to be imported duty-free. They still get hammered with a 50% excise tax (effectively 111%) plus VAT though - in fact some would posit that TAFTA was the reason excise taxes went up so high....

Used cars do not qualify under the scheme.

[BSJ]

That agreement is not as wonderful as you may think if your wanting to export stuff from Oz to here!

[Woodsie888]

That agreement is not as wonderful as you may think if your wanting to export stuff from Oz to here!

Is that not what IMHO is inferring?

[BSJ]

That agreement is not as wonderful as you may think if your wanting to export stuff from Oz to here!

Is that not what IMHO is inferring?

I think he was pretty clear about it as far as cars go, but the agreement is fairly wide ranging covering a number of goods. I am sure Australian wine producers, and others, would have liked a bit more input!

[Jitar]

The Thai government would come up with ways to "manage" the FTA no matter what was put in it.

The Australian car manufacturers have lost huge market share to imports from Thailand and other countries, due to the high A$ and FTAs. I seriously doubt Thailand would allow the same challenge to the local industry even if Australia had the FTA, currency exchange rate and products to do it.

[stingray]

The Australians could change things, but they dont. If they would put a 100% import tax on Thai Cars, the goverment would give up taxing the Aussie Cars. But Aussie Goverment dont have the balls to stand up against the Thai Govermment. Therefore a new Ford Terretory still cost 2.8 Million overhere.

[Jitar]

I am not so sure Australia could change things. Protecting local manufacturers from competition does not usually end well in the long run, as the Thai car market shows.

Australia also had high import duties on cars in the 70's. The Australian market then was similar in some respects to the Thai car market now, i.e. dominated by a couple of local manufacturers, high prices and small range of models and slow adoption of new technology and a lot of unhappy buyers.

I assume the Territory is expensive in LOS because it gets hit with the higher passenger car / +2.5L excise rate of 40% + Ford may be a bit greedy as well. It would be a hell of a lot more without the FTA exemption from import duty.

[stingray]

But it isn't fair. For 2.8 Mill noonee will buy. They will only sell the 4 potter thai SUV instead. mosthly all exported picks from Thailandare above2.5 liter. So the Aussie Goverment shoulld tax them with 40% exise tax as well and protect their own market. It makes me feel bad about this. Thais allways want everything, but not give anything. Similar with the Housing Market. The want sell Houses, take our money, but we can't own them.

[kartman]

I am not so sure Australia could change things. Protecting local manufacturers from competition does not usually end well in the long run, as the Thai car market shows.

Australia also had high import duties on cars in the 70's. The Australian market then was similar in some respects to the Thai car market now, i.e. dominated by a couple of local manufacturers, high prices and small range of models and slow adoption of new technology and a lot of unhappy buyers.

I assume the Territory is expensive in LOS because it gets hit with the higher passenger car / +2.5L excise rate of 40% + Ford may be a bit greedy as well. It would be a hell of a lot more without the FTA exemption from import duty.

As the Thai car market shows ? no it will be fine in the long run, no lots of unhappy buyers just a few falangs that the market could not give a toss about .

[Jitar]

The Thai car market is fine depending on your perspective. The Government is happy with the substantial tax take. The local car manufactures are no doubt happy with the import protection and limited competition. Buyers of pickups and economy cars are OK but buyers of other car types pay the price. Many Thai buyers understand this, not just a few falang.

[kartman]

The Thai car market is fine depending on your perspective. The Government is happy with the substantial tax take. The local car manufactures are no doubt happy with the import protection and limited competition. Buyers of pickups and economy cars are OK but buyers of other car types pay the price. Many Thai buyers understand this, not just a few falang.

Thanks for confirming the Thai auto industry is OK strong and not going to change any time soon , as for the Thai buyers of other car types not many will make their voice heard not that the Government/ would take any note of it so they fall into the same category as the few falangs .

[IMHO]

I am not so sure Australia could change things. Protecting local manufacturers from competition does not usually end well in the long run, as the Thai car market shows.

Australia also had high import duties on cars in the 70's. The Australian market then was similar in some respects to the Thai car market now, i.e. dominated by a couple of local manufacturers, high prices and small range of models and slow adoption of new technology and a lot of unhappy buyers.

I assume the Territory is expensive in LOS because it gets hit with the higher passenger car / +2.5L excise rate of 40% + Ford may be a bit greedy as well. It would be a hell of a lot more without the FTA exemption from import duty.

As the Thai car market shows ? no it will be fine in the long run, no lots of unhappy buyers just a few falangs that the market could not give a toss about .

The proposed 2016 carbon-based excise tax changes really only have only one segment coming out better off (and quite well too - to the tune of ~50% less tax), which is cars > 220HP, <3,000cc and emitting <150gm/km - if you look at today's market there's 2 prominent brands those rules seem to service very nicely...

There's been a grand total of 100 Ford Territory's imported to Thailand - hardly something worth legislating to protect. As for Australia influencing Thai excise taxes some other way, unless they're prepared to foot the $70 Billion bill for the infrastructure projects planned in TH over the next 7 years, I'd say that was a complete pipe dream

[VocalNeal]

The amount of income tax paid by the wealthy in Thailand is quite small so the government gets it tax from things they buy ,like cars! No mystery here.

[Ace of Pop]

The amount of income tax paid by the wealthy in Thailand is quite small so the government gets it tax from things they buy ,like cars! No mystery here.

Where is your Red Shirt.?. Total Lefty Twaddle

[Thereisnoif]

The amount of income tax paid by the wealthy in Thailand is quite small so the government gets it tax from things they buy ,like cars! No mystery here.

Rubbish, the wealthy get away with excise and duties just as easily as they do with income tax .

[Ace of Pop]

The amount of income tax paid by the wealthy in Thailand is quite small so the government gets it tax from things they buy ,like cars! No mystery here.

Rubbish, the wealthy get away with excise and duties just as easily as they do with income tax .

So here is another Ferang Lefty. Are you referring to Thaksin Types ?, if so your right.Being part of the Middle Class, you get watched same as U.S A. Sounds like a Ferang Teachers Bleat to me. Malcontents mainly.who drive a Cruze.

[hansje1980]

Thanks folks for all replies. I was just wondering because I saw this image in Thai auto book. It included an Australian flag

[stevenl]

Please leave those nonsense political accusations out of here.

[Jitar]

I am not so sure Australia could change things. Protecting local manufacturers from competition does not usually end well in the long run, as the Thai car market shows.

Australia also had high import duties on cars in the 70's. The Australian market then was similar in some respects to the Thai car market now, i.e. dominated by a couple of local manufacturers, high prices and small range of models and slow adoption of new technology and a lot of unhappy buyers.

I assume the Territory is expensive in LOS because it gets hit with the higher passenger car / +2.5L excise rate of 40% + Ford may be a bit greedy as well. It would be a hell of a lot more without the FTA exemption from import duty.

As the Thai car market shows ? no it will be fine in the long run, no lots of unhappy buyers just a few falangs that the market could not give a toss about .

The proposed 2016 carbon-based excise tax changes really only have only one segment coming out better off (and quite well too - to the tune of ~50% less tax), which is cars > 220HP, <3,000cc and emitting <150gm/km - if you look at today's market there's 2 prominent brands those rules seem to service very nicely...

There's been a grand total of 100 Ford Territory's imported to Thailand - hardly something worth legislating to protect. As for Australia influencing Thai excise taxes some other way, unless they're prepared to foot the $70 Billion bill for the infrastructure projects planned in TH over the next 7 years, I'd say that was a complete pipe dream

There weren't many reductions in Excise evident in the press report late last year so I hope this proposal has been superseded. The table shows new excise rates dependent on CO₂ emission similar to the old rates dependent on engine size. Cars with less than 3L engines and pickups need to have very low CO₂ emissions to avoid a tax increase. Depending on how the numbers are derived, pickup makers might need to do a bit of work to get their CO₂ level below 200 g/km target to avoid a tax increase. May be a benefit for cars with emission less than 100 g/km if "-" means nil. Strangely this table shows the excise rate for 3L cars at 50% regardless of emission level and fuel type?

[IMHO]

I am not so sure Australia could change things. Protecting local manufacturers from competition does not usually end well in the long run, as the Thai car market shows.

Australia also had high import duties on cars in the 70's. The Australian market then was similar in some respects to the Thai car market now, i.e. dominated by a couple of local manufacturers, high prices and small range of models and slow adoption of new technology and a lot of unhappy buyers.

I assume the Territory is expensive in LOS because it gets hit with the higher passenger car / +2.5L excise rate of 40% + Ford may be a bit greedy as well. It would be a hell of a lot more without the FTA exemption from import duty.

As the Thai car market shows ? no it will be fine in the long run, no lots of unhappy buyers just a few falangs that the market could not give a toss about .

The proposed 2016 carbon-based excise tax changes really only have only one segment coming out better off (and quite well too - to the tune of ~50% less tax), which is cars > 220HP, <3,000cc and emitting <150gm/km - if you look at today's market there's 2 prominent brands those rules seem to service very nicely...

There's been a grand total of 100 Ford Territory's imported to Thailand - hardly something worth legislating to protect. As for Australia influencing Thai excise taxes some other way, unless they're prepared to foot the $70 Billion bill for the infrastructure projects planned in TH over the next 7 years, I'd say that was a complete pipe dream

There weren't many reductions in Excise evident in the press report late last year so I hope this proposal has been superseded. The table shows new excise rates dependent on CO₂ emission similar to the old rates dependent on engine size. Cars with less than 3L engines and pickups need to have very low CO₂ emissions to avoid a tax increase. Depending on how the numbers are derived, pickup makers might need to do a bit of work to get their CO₂ level below 200 g/km target to avoid a tax increase. May be a benefit for cars with emission less than 100 g/km if "-" means nil. Strangely this table shows the excise rate for 3L cars at 50% regardless of emission level and fuel type?

Still based on the original proposed rates, perhaps you're reading my message wrong though

What I'm saying is, the 220HP limit will be gone - and there are several notable <3000cc engines (turbo/supercharged) that achieve well in excess of 220HP, but will fall into a new low excise tax group because they are also able to achieve < 150gm/km.

[Jitar]

Yes, getting rid of the 220 hp limit will be better.

Keeping the 50% rate for +3L or +3.25L engines regardless of vehicle type, fuel, hybrid etc rather than a rate based on CO₂ emission seems inconsistent and a bit obsessive but TIT.

[IMHO]

Yes, getting rid of the 220 hp limit will be better.

Keeping the 50% rate for +3L or +3.25L engines regardless of vehicle type, fuel, hybrid etc rather than a rate based on CO₂ emission seems inconsistent and a bit obsessive but TIT.

Well, they can't have all those Commodores, Falcons and Territory's flooding in can they? That'd make the TAFTA useful

In seriousness, there's really no case for keeping the capacity based thresholds at all - the CO2 tiers take care of the exotics with the mega tax revenue for now anyway.. until they all go fully electric or low-CC hybrid..