Thai Prime Minister says U.S. tariff negotiations are delayed to review ‘issues’

Prime Minister Paeton Shinawatra said on Tuesday that his negotiations with Washington on steep trade tariffs were delayed as the United States has asked Bangkok to review important issues.

She said a new meeting date was scheduled. The day before the negotiations was April 23.

Thailand is one of the Southeast Asian countries under the measures of U.S. President Donald Trump, and faces a 36% tariff if negotiations cannot be negotiated before the end of the global moratorium in July.

“We are not too slow and we are reviewing the issues, including tariffs that may be adjusted appropriately,” Paetongtarn said.

Last year, the United States was Thailand’s largest export market, accounting for 18.3% of total shipments, or $54.96 billion. Washington set its deficit with Thailand at $45.6 billion.

“We are consulting scholars and all gatherings and doing our best in this case,” she added.

“We are protecting the agricultural interests as much as possible,” she said.

Rice said Thailand’s rice exports fell 30% in the first quarter, possibly below the full-year forecast for tariffs.

Last year, Thailand shipped 9.94 million tons of rice worth 225.65 billion baht, and the United States was its third largest market.

Thailand’s Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, who attended talks in Washington, said negotiations were still underway despite delays in the U.S. negotiations. He said he had no plans to go to the United States anytime soon.

(Reports by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat ThePgumpanat; Edited by Martin Petty)