Thailand mulls zero duty for more US goods to win tariff deal
Thai officials are optimistic about finalising an agreement before the Aug 1 deadline set by US President Donald Trump
[BANGKOK] Thailand is weighing allowing zero-duty market access for more US goods, to help persuade the Trump administration to lower a threatened 36 per cent tariff on its exports.
Thailand, which has previously cut tariffs on imports of longan and tilapia fish from other countries, could lower the levy for the US on those goods to zero, Finance Minister Pichai Chunahavajira said.
The government may also amend existing regulations to allow left-hand drive vehicles from the US and eliminate taxes on goods already included in free-trade agreements with other countries, he added.
The US is pushing for “ambitious proposals”, the minister told a trade seminar in Bangkok on Monday (Jul 14), without elaborating. The two sides remain engaged in ongoing dialogue to reach a deal, he added.
Thai officials are optimistic about finalising an agreement before the Aug 1 deadline set by US President Donald Trump.
Thailand has pledged to eliminate import duties on 90 per cent of US goods and to remove various non-tariff barriers. The government has also offered to increase purchases of US agricultural and energy products in a bid to reduce its trade surplus, which stood at US$46 billion last year.
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The US was Thailand’s largest export destination in 2024, accounting for about 18 per cent of total shipments. Thai exports have increased by about 15 per cent in the first five months of this year, driven by accelerated orders ahead of the anticipated tariff implementation.
Some of the US demands in trade talks go beyond tariff and non-tariff reductions and cover geopolitical issues, said Pichai.
Conceding to such demands may spark domestic unrest, he noted, adding that any agreement with the US must be mutually beneficial and sustainable for Thailand in the long term.
US demands regarding local content requirements are unlikely to have a major impact as Thailand’s exports are mostly from older industries with high domestic inputs, Pichai explained.
The US has threatened higher tariffs on countries suspected of rerouting Chinese goods to avoid the trade war. Trump recently announced a deal with Vietnam that includes a 20 per cent tariff on exports and a 40 per cent rate on products considered to be transshipped.
Thailand is among several countries that have received tariff warning letters from the Trump administration and is now racing to finalise a deal to avoid steep levies.
Failure to secure reduced tariffs from its largest export market could lead to a sharp decline in shipments and shave up to one percentage point off the nation’s projected economic growth.
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