Phase 3 of handouts in doubt

PM says 'revisions' needed due to tariffs

- WICHIT CHANTANUSORNSIRI CHAIRITH YONPIAM

The next phase of the government's flagship money handout scheme requires some revisions as the impact of US President Donald Trump's tariff policies on the global economy looms large, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said yesterday.

"Right now, opinions [on the project's next phase] are still being circulated [among the parties concerned], as we must take into account the changing global economic situation," she said, speaking after yesterday's weekly cabinet meeting.

"The National Economic and Social Development Council and the Bank of Thailand [for instance] have also provided their views, to which the government must listen," the premier added.

The government had previously pushed forward this project for the sake of economic stimulation, but now that intervening factors have come into play, it must first reassess what the exact outcome of the planned stimulus could be, she said.