Bangkok: “Pichai”, Finance Minister, admits to being more concerned about the rules than taxes because each country is different. He said that in many matters, ASEAN must stick together. He is worried that if the conditions are different, there may be problems among themselves. The time frame is still unclear because the number of US officials is limited.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Pichai Chunhavajira, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, discussed the ongoing negotiations with the United States following the introduction of import tax measures on Thai products. He emphasized that the Thai approach was well-prepared and that the United States sought a more concrete plan. The US wanted to understand the benefits of potential investments for both nations and assess their feasibility, which had been regularly reviewed with operational officers. Pichai stressed that the focus was more on non-tax issues, like regulatory differences due to varied national resources, requiring well-prepared responses.
When asked about balancing interests between the US and China, Mr. Pichai highlighted Thailand’s role as a mediator. The nation strives to remain neutral, focusing on mutual exchanges rather than prioritizing any country’s interests. This stance is clear from surveys on international relations, where countries’ alignments are evident, but Thailand aims to maintain its middle-ground position.
Regarding the ASEAN framework for negotiations, Mr. Pichai noted that although ASEAN is a significant trade partner, differing conditions among member nations could lead to internal challenges. It is crucial for ASEAN countries to have consistent rules to avoid conflicts.
Additionally, recent legal actions against American academic Paul Chambers have raised concerns about potential impacts on negotiations. Mr. Pichai expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved positively and assured that it wouldn’t derail economic discussions.
On the topic of scheduling negotiations with the United States, Mr. Pichai mentioned the constraints due to limited personnel, with a team of fewer than 200 people, necessitating careful planning and prioritization of talks.