Govt eyes tariff talks

Negotiators readied as exporters panic

- MONGKOL BANGPRAPA PHUSADEE ARUNMAS WICHIT CHANTANUSORNSIRI

The government is ready to negotiate with the United States to find ways to ease the impact of President Donald Trump's announcement this week of a 37% tariff on the kingdom's exports.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said yesterday in a statement that the government recognises America's need to rebalance its trade relationships through its reciprocal trade and tariffs policy.

However, the strategic framework under Mr Trump is especially dynamic and represents a departure from previous administrations.

At Mr Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" event on Wednesday he revealed the US would impose a minimum 10% tariff on imports from all countries.

For those with a trade surplus against the US, and which are viewed by it as having unfair trade advantages such as high tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and various fees a country-specific retaliatory tariff will be applied at half the rate of what the US exports face in those markets.

For Thailand, this has been set at 37%, effective from April 9.