Thailand upbeat on exports to US

Businessmen and economists are optimistic that the US will not be tough on trade negotiations with Thailand following Bangkok's suspension of its peace accord with Cambodia, saying US President Donald Trump is feeling domestic pressure to lower taxes to ease rising inflation.

- NAREERAT WIRIYAPONG RANJANA WANGVIPULA WICHIT CHANTANUSORNSIRI

Burin Adulwattana, managing director of Kasikorn Research Centre (K-Research), said Trump is expected to lower taxes on additional imported items to avoid the impacts of high tariffs on US consumers.

Recently, the US administration rolled back tariffs on more than 200 food products in the face of growing discomfort among US consumers about the high cost of groceries. For example, Trump signed an executive order allowing a range of food products, including coffee, bananas and beef, to escape his sweeping tariffs.

The Trump administration said these goods could not be produced to a sufficient extent domestically. The products included on the White House's list of exemptions range from avocados and tomatoes to coconuts and mangoes.

The move comes as his administration faces mounting pressure over rising prices. While Trump previously downplayed concerns about the cost of living, analysts say it seems that he has focused on the issue since his Republican Party’s poor performance in last week’s elections.