Key to success: Give what Trump wants

This article is for all nations wanting US President Donald Trump to lower or eliminate reciprocal tariffs, not just Thailand. I feel that the issue is of immediate urgency, and I am writing this article as a special edition.

- Chartchai Parasuk

Mark my words: “The key to successful negotiation is to give away the contradictory wants.” Just imagine a situation in which one is negotiating with someone who wants to buy chicken meat. But one offers to sell pork meat instead. What is the probability of such a negotiation becoming successful?

The article is in two parts. The first part will analyse what Mr Trump wants and what the true meaning of “liberation” is. The analysis will focus on Mr Trump’s “reciprocal” tariff calculation math. The second part suggests how to give what Mr Trump wants without hurting one’s own economy. I have a feeling that the Thai negotiating team lacks understanding of the first part and has no clue how to properly negotiate, particularly about the contradictory aspects of Mr Trump.

Many might not agree, if I say that Mr Trump wants a free trade world but with fair trade practices and fair currency values. Before accusing me of being an ignorant Trump supporter, let us sit at the attached table with the 10-year trade history between Thailand and the US. I throw in Thai-China trade data for comparison (see the graphic).

Thailand is not an efficient economy that can produce cheap and quality goods to supply the world, as our overall trade balance worsened from a surplus in 2019 to a deficit in 2024. But look at trade development between Thailand and the US, particularly in comparison to Thailand and China. Do readers think that something is not quite right here?