Thailand’s Finance Minister, Pichai Chunhavajira, announced on Friday his plans to visit the United States next week for critical trade negotiations.
Speaking to the press, Pichai confirmed that a date has already been set for the discussions, though he declined to provide further details regarding the agenda or timing.
Thailand is currently racing against the clock, facing the possibility of a steep 36% U.S. tariff on its exports if an agreement is not reached before a moratorium ends in early July. At present, most countries benefit from a reduced tariff rate of 10% during the moratorium. Thai exports to the U.S. are a crucial engine for the nation’s economic growth, making these talks particularly significant.
Earlier this month, Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan expressed optimism that the two countries could strike a favorable deal on tariffs, and hinted at the possibility of agreeing to maintain a rate as low as 10%. Thai officials have also indicated their desire to see the negotiation timeline extended, aiming to keep the reduced tariff rates in place beyond the scheduled end of the moratorium next month.
Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated the scheduled deadlines of July 8 and 9, set for restarting the tariffs, are “not critical.” She added that there is a possibility the deadline could be extended, but ultimately, this is the president’s decision.
