US tariffs could flood Thai market with cheap Chinese goods
Thailand may soon be swamped with an influx of cheap Chinese imports if the United States slaps high tariffs on Chinese goods, warns former Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai. The country must brace itself for economic turbulence, or risk being caught off guard.
Speaking at the Chula Thailand Presidents Summit 2025 at Chulalongkorn University, Surakiart cautioned that if the US tightens trade restrictions on China, surplus goods will inevitably be redirected to other countries, with Thailand a likely destination. The government, private sector, and civil society must collaborate to decide whether to embrace or resist the flood of imports.
“Thailand’s future depends on its political and strategic stance in economic and geopolitical contexts.”
Surakiart added that upcoming trade negotiations with Washington will go beyond tariffs and could have far-reaching consequences. Without a unified national strategy, he warned, the country could face domestic instability.
Surakiart highlighted potential internal fractures, predicting that the Thai private sector may splinter due to conflicting interests, while the government could struggle to present a united front, given that different ministries, each controlled by rival political factions, oversee trade matters.
To avoid chaos, he urged Thailand to appoint special government representatives to spearhead negotiations on various trade and policy issues, mirroring US congressional committees that handle matters separately. He also stressed the importance of working closely with ASEAN nations to strengthen bargaining power, particularly on sensitive issues like the treatment of Uyghur refugees and Myanmar’s political crisis, reported The Nation.
“Thailand must be prepared for disruptions and rapid changes. Resilience, adaptability, and strong leadership across all sectors are critical to navigating this challenging landscape.”
In similar news, Thai highway police intercepted a major operation on January 22 involving the illegal import of more than 15 tonnes of pork meat from China. The meat, intended for restaurants in Bangkok, was smuggled across the Mekong River.
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