Critic questions approach to US tariffs

>> Instantaneous and substantive reactions from several countries in Asean and Asia to the US tariff woes have been compared by a critic of the government to a state of being aloof and confused.

- MONGKOL BANGPRAPA

Sirikanya Tansakun, MP of the opposition People's Party, yesterday outlined the reactions from several countries in the Asean bloc and Asia as a whole, which are among those slapped with varying tariff rates.

Vietnam has opened a round of talks with Washington to address trade imbalances, which received a signal of approval from US President Donald Trump, she said. Cambodia, meanwhile, has slashed tariffs on imports from the US to 5% to facilitate trade negotiations with Washington, she added.

South Korea has released an emergency economic relief package for businesses hit hard by the US tariff, such as the auto industry, while the Prime Minister of Singapore has warned its citizens about the consequences of the tariff rises, she noted.