Thailand Awaits New Date for Talks on President Donald Trump’s Trade Tariffs – Prime Minister Paetongtarn

Thailand Awaits New Date for Talks on President Donald Trump’s Trade Tariffs – Prime Minister Paetongtarn

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Tuesday that discussions with the United States regarding high tariffs have been postponed. The U.S. has asked Thailand to review some “key issues,” which led to the delay in setting a new date for the talks.

She stated, “We are waiting for a new date to be scheduled. The previously agreed date was April 23.”

Due to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s strict trade policies, Thailand and other Southeast Asian nations have faced significantly high tariffs. Thailand is at risk of tariffs as high as 36% if no agreement is reached on tariff reduction before the global exemption expires in July.

🔹 What Did the Thai Prime Minister Say?
“We’re not being slow. We’re reviewing our tariff structure to make appropriate adjustments,” said Paetongtarn.
She noted that the review is particularly focused on the export and import of Thai agricultural products.
“We are consulting with academics, experts, and all relevant stakeholders to do our best,” she said. “We’re prioritizing the interests of our farmers, but the negotiations must be mutually beneficial.”

🔹 The U.S. is Thailand’s Largest Export Market
In 2024, 18.3% of Thailand’s total exports went to the United States, amounting to approximately $54.96 billion. However, the U.S. has also raised concerns about a $45.6 billion trade deficit with Thailand.

🔹 Rice Exports Down by 30%
Fears of rising tariffs have significantly impacted Thailand’s rice exports. In the first quarter of the year, rice exports dropped by 30%, and it’s now feared that the annual export target of 7.5 million metric tons may not be met.
In 2024, Thailand exported 9.94 million tons of rice, valued at 225.65 billion baht. The U.S. was Thailand’s third-largest rice market.

🔹 Finance Minister’s Response
Thailand’s Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, who was expected to participate in the talks in Washington, confirmed that although the meeting date has been postponed, work is ongoing at various levels.