Trump Tax Plan Targets Thailand as 'Non-Reciprocal' Trading Partner

[reader]

From The Nation

As the countdown continues to what Donald Trump has dubbed "America's Liberation Day" on 2 April, Thai officials are scrambling to assess the potential impact of the new US president's threatened tariff regime.

A key White House document from Trump's first term, recently revealed by the Wall Street Journal, suggests Thailand could be particularly vulnerable to retaliatory measures.

The document, titled "The United States Reciprocal Trade Act: Estimated Job & Trade Deficit Effects", identifies Thailand as having "non-reciprocal tax policies" that place it firmly in the US crosshairs.

According to Dr. Supavud Saicheua, chairman of Thailand's National Economic and Social Development Council, Trump's team may use this blueprint to determine specific tariffs on Thai goods, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Thailand currently ranks as America's 12th largest trade deficit partner, with the US experiencing a $US 19.3 billion shortfall in 2018. American exports to Thailand totalled $US 12.6 billion against imports of $US 31.9 billion – a ratio of 1:2.5, according to the White House analysis reviewed by WSJ researchers.

The assessment is particularly critical of what it deems unfair taxation practices. One striking example cited by the Journal is green tea, which Thailand taxes at 90% when imported from the US, while American tariffs on Thai tea stand at just 3%.

The document classifies Thailand among countries with "non-reciprocal tax policies", noting that Thailand imposes higher customs duties than the US on 2,881 product categories – representing 55% of all traded goods. 

Continues at

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/economy/40048258

 

 

[thaiophilus]

That table is potentially misleading. Last time I looked, Ireland, Italy, Germany and France were part of the EU, but here they are listed separately as well as being included in the total. Also, those figures are from 2018 and a lot has happened since then.

[bkkmfj2648]

Maybe Thailand could follow Vietnam's lead?

https://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnam-cuts-import-taxes-on-key-goods-ahead-of-us-tariff-announcement-post312690.vnp

 

[bkkmfj2648]

No Fear - Thai PM assures everyone.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/economy/40048282

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra reassured that there is no need to worry about the US imposing a 36% tariff on Thai imports, as measures are already in place to address the issue. 

 

I was shocked when I saw that Trump hit Vietnam with 46% tariffs = outch

[Moses]

15 hours ago, thaiophilus said:

those figures are from 2018 and a lot has happened since then

Current state: in 2024, the U.S. had a trade deficit of $45.6 billion with Thailand. U.S. exports to Thailand were $17.7 billion, while imports from Thailand totaled $63.3 billion. This deficit increased by 11.7% compared to 2023

https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/southeast-asia-pacific/thailand

[TMax]

I love that he included the Heard and McDonald Islands, no doubt the penguins that live there most likely couldn't care less haha 😆 

Quote

But literally no people on the Heard and McDonald islands will feel the effects — because there’s no one there. Both are considered uninhabited, home to a large population of penguins and identified by Australia’s government as “one of the world’s least anthropogenically disturbed areas.” Nonetheless, the pair were hit with the minimum penalty of 10 percent.

 

[Keithambrose]

2 hours ago, TMax said:

I love that he included the Heard and McDonald Islands, no doubt the penguins that live there most likely couldn't care less haha 😆 

 

I don't think any kind of facts interest the Donald, they just get in the way. 

[vinapu]

10 hours ago, TMax said:

I love that he included the Heard and McDonald Islands, no doubt the penguins that live there most likely couldn't care less haha 😆 

 

looks that Trump administration is very detail oriented.

 

Trump and tax PLAN ? that 'plan' part must be a joke