Thailand Says Ready To Negotiate With US After Being Hit With 36 Pct Tariff

By Kenny Teng

BANGKOK, April 3 (Bernama) -- The Thai government stands ready to negotiate with the United States (US) after President Donald Trump announced the imposition of a 36 per cent retaliatory tariff on Thai exports to the US.

In a statement today, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said she hoped to engage in constructive dialogue with the US at the earliest opportunity to achieve a fair trade balance that minimises disruption to both economies.

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She made the announcement following the Trump administration’s imposition of a minimum 10 per cent tariff on imports from all countries through its Reciprocal Trade and Tariffs policy.

For countries with a trade surplus against the United States and which are viewed by the US as having unfair trade advantages -- such as high tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and various fees -- a country-specific retaliatory tariff will be applied at half the rate of what the US exports face in those markets. 

“For Thailand, this retaliatory tariff has been set at 36 per cent, effective from April 9, 2025 onwards,” the statement said.

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Paetongtarn noted that the tariff increase would have widespread implications globally, as it will inevitably impact all trading partners, particularly American consumers, who may struggle to absorb the rapid rise in prices.

However, she said that a dedicated US Trade Policy Taskforce, established on Jan 6 this year, has been working closely with both public and private sectors over the past three months to monitor developments and prepare a set of substantive proposals.

She said these proposals aim to encourage the US to enter negotiations with Thailand while mitigating the impact on Thai farmers, consumers, and businesses.

“At the same time, this situation may also present an opportunity for Thailand to restructure production, reduce costs, and enhance long-term competitiveness in certain industries,” she added.

Paetongtarn stressed that Thailand remains firmly committed to fostering a stable and balanced trade relationship with the United States while reaffirming its position as a reliable ally and economic partner to the US.

-- BERNAMA