Thailand’s finance minister, Pichai Chunhavajira, said on Tuesday the country is readying a contingency plan in response to the United States’ decision to impose a sweeping 36% tariff on Thai exports, set to take effect August 1, 2025.
Speaking to reporters, Pichai signaled confidence that ongoing efforts could yield a more favorable tariff rate in line with those applied to other U.S. trading partners.
Minister Pichai noted that Thailand has put forward a revised trade proposal, although Washington has yet to take it under review. The finance minister said that negotiations are ongoing and he remains optimistic that Thailand can secure a lower tariff before the August deadline. He emphasized that bilateral discussions are expected to reach a resolution prior to the new tariffs coming into force.
Amid heightened uncertainty, Pichai pledged that Thailand would boost its economic resilience by fostering domestic growth and diversifying its export destinations.
