1 day Ago
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira will lead a delegation to the United States this week to discuss trade issue and tell the US that Thailand is not only an exporter but a reliable friend of the US, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Sunday morning. She said the US imposed 36% tariff on Thai exports and many other countries shared the same situation with Thailand and prepared measures in response. “We believe that the world will see fierce retaliations through tax instruments.
Many countries have decided to talk with the US government but no one have had any conclusions,” Ms Paetongtarn said. “The new measure has significant impacts on our exports, especially electronics, processed foods and farm products,” the prime minister said. Ms Paetongtarn said the government formed a working group to discuss the issue on Jan 6 and it has discussed the issue and proposals with the private sector and representatives of the US both formally and informally.
“This week, Mr Pichai Chunhavajira, deputy prime minister and finance minister, will leave for discussions with many parties in the US - the government sector, the private sector and stakeholders,” the prime minister said. “We will tell the US government that Thailand is not only an exporter but also an ally and economic partner that the US can rely on in the long run,” she said. The government has come up with policy-related proposals including increase in imports from the US in energy, aircraft and farm sectors, the prime minister said.
Thailand plans to develop cooperation with agricultural, industrial and other sectors of the US and there are many more details relevant to the matter, Ms Paetongtarn said. Thailand will request from the US promotional privileges for Thai investors, lessened obstacles to Thai exports and suppression of the products that claimed to originate from Thailand for their exports to the US, the prime minister said. She said she was confident that the US would accept Thailand’s proposals so that both countries remained as allies and trading partners.
The Thai government was ready to listen more to the US and people could rest assured that the proposals that the government prepared were all aimed to protect the interest of Thailand, Thai people and business operators, the prime minister said. She said that her government would introduce immediate and long-term measures to help affected Thai business operators - small and medium-sized enterprises and largescale industrialists. Ms Paetongtarn said that she would meet parties concerned on Tuesday to discuss plans to protect the national interest and economy.
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