Thailand to hold trade talks with US next week: local media
BANGKOK: Thailand’s finance minister will travel to the United States next week for trade talks, local media reported on Friday, as the kingdom seeks to secure a deal with Washington over US President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs.
Thai exports face a 36% levy on key exports to the United States under the president’s raft of ‘Liberation Day’ measures if no agreement is reached to avert it before next month’s deadline.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira told reporters he has scheduled talks with a US representative and plans to depart next week, according to local outlet Thai News Agency MCOT.
His remarks followed online speculation that the tariffs would be cut to 18% after the talks, which he dismissed in a post on X.
‘It’s just a projection made by economists,’ he told reporters at Government House, as reported by local media.
In May, Pichai said the proposal aimed to reduce the trade imbalance and expand US export access to Thailand’s market.
The United States’ goods trade deficit with Thailand hit $45.6 bn in 2024, up 11.7% from the year before, according to US Trade Representative data.
The Thai government last month cut its 2025 economic growth forecast to 2.3–3.3%, from 3.2–4.2%, citing uncertainty over ‘reciprocal tariffs’.
AFP approached a spokesperson for Pichai’s party, who was unable to confirm details of the trip.
Many Southeast Asian nations were threatened with the highest ‘reciprocal’ tariff rates: 49% on Cambodia’s exports, 46% on Vietnam’s and 44% on Myanmar’s.
By RSS/AFP
