'No time to waste'

US security needs in region, Asean can be cited in trade talks, writes Aekarach Sattaburuth

- Aekarach Sattaburuth

The government must form a task force to negotiate the tariffs imposed by the United States on Thai products before the 90-day pause announced by US President Donald Trump last week expires, an expert urged.

In an interview with Bangkok Post, foreign affairs analyst Panitan Wattanayagorn said the government must understand the objective behind the US decision to impose tariffs on its trading partners and tailor its response accordingly.

Washington's objective is to address the US trade deficit, and the tariff announcement was a way to force the US' trading partners back to the negotiating table to reduce the trade volume disparity, as well as to review policies which the US believes are disproportionately benefitting China, he said.

More importantly, Mr Panitan said the government must realise the US' decision to impose tariffs is also related to political and security issues.

As such, he said the government must play its cards right to secure favourable terms in its negotiations with Washington.

TIME TO RESPOND

When the US announced the reciprocal tariffs, its trading partners responded in three distinct ways.