Bangkok: The Prime Minister confirmed that measures to deal with US taxes must be careful, fast, and precise, knowing each other and ourselves, and adhering to the highest benefits of the Thai people. He revealed that international trade negotiations require multiple levels, indicating that they cannot be completed in one go.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, chaired the 3/2568 meeting of the Working Group on US Trade Policy, which was attended by Mr. Pichai Chunhavajira, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr. Pichai Naripthaphan, Minister of Commerce, Mr. Marist Sengiampong, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ekkanat Promphan, Minister of Industry, Mrs. Narumon Pinyosinwat, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr. Piphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labor, Mr. Paopum Rojanasakul, Deputy Minister of Finance, Mrs. Nalinee Taveesin, Chairwoman of the Thai Trade Representative, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and relevant agencies.
The meeting was also attended by the US Trade Policy Working Group, consisting of Mr. Pansak Vinyarat, Chief Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister; Mr. Supavut Saicheua, Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister; Mr. Wutthikrai Leewiraphan, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce; Mr. Narit Therdsathirasak, Secretary-General of the Board of Investment; Mr. Chantanon Wannakhet, Secretary-General of the Office of Agricultural Economics; Ms. Chotima Iamsawasdikul, Director-General of the Department of International Trade Negotiations; Ms. Jaithai Upakarnkittiket, Deputy Director-General of the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs; Ms. Kwannapha Phiwnil, Expert Trade Expert; and Mr. Ohm Buakhiew, Working Group Chief Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister.
Then Ms. Paethongtarn posted a message on social media that the strategy to deal with the Reciprocal Tariff and Liberation Day measures must be 'know yourself, know yourself, be quick, and be precise'. Today's meeting will be to monitor the situation and determine the next steps carefully and precisely for the greatest benefit of the Thai people.
As per the news reports that everyone has been following, US President Trump announced the Reciprocal Tariff and Liberation Day on April 2, which is considered to be the setting of new world trade rules.
The government is closely monitoring the situation and has identified it as an important agenda, appointing a working group on US trade policy since January 6, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, with Mr. Pansak Vinyarat and Mr. Supawut Saicheua as advisors, to study the details, discuss and set guidelines together with the government and private sectors.
In the cabinet meeting this morning, Deputy Prime Minister Pichai was assigned to lead the negotiation team with America, along with the Minister of Commerce as a member of the negotiation team. They coordinated an appointment to talk with relevant parties, including the USTR and other American agencies, to discuss Thailand's proposal.
And today's meeting will be to monitor the situation to determine the next step for the greatest benefit of the Thai people carefully and precisely. The most important thing is to set strategies and measures, which are to "know them" and "know ourselves". Today, we have seen in addition to the forms of response and handling of Trump's policies from various countries, what are they? We have also seen the reactions and counter-movements of the people in the United States who have been affected by this policy.
Ms. Paethongtarn stated that the government's strategy and working process must be both 'fast and accurate'. Fast, I would like to emphasize that we have set up a working group since January, which we set up before President Trump officially took office on January 20, and have been coordinating with the United States all along. Accurate, we have prepared complete and comprehensive information, and have been following up on movements from all affected sectors to assess and find conclusions in the negotiations that will follow from now on.
Let me reiterate that negotiations are not just a one-time thing, but negotiations will take time and involve negotiations at different levels.
In addition, we believe that the changes have structural economic impacts, so we need to prepare measures to cope with and provide relief to those affected by such measures, especially in the short term. In the long term, we will have to look at adjusting the economic structure and continuously finding new markets so that the Thai economy can continue to be strong.
I would like to confirm that the government is taking into account the interests of our people and the country as our top priority. We will proceed with caution in order to maintain our interests and not be disadvantaged as much as possible.