Pundits upbeat on US tariff agreement

Thailand stands a chance on a deal

- NAREERAT WIRIYAPONG

An international affairs academic and a leading economist are partially optimistic Thailand can reach an agreement with Washington over the latter's stiff reciprocal tariffs, though challenges remain as the levies have already affected the global trading system.

The US-China trade war is a “geoeco-nomic” conflict, pertaining to not only trade, but also technology and other non-military facets, said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, senior fellow of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science.

“The recent agreement between the US and China to ease mutual tariffs is just one phase. There will be ups and downs, but overall the conflict is likely to intensify,” he told the Bangkok Post.

Mr Thitinan said the initial US-China deal was reached because President Donald Trump is mindful of the tariff effects on American consumers who form the base of Republican Party politicians.