The Ministry of Commerce is enhancing measures to prevent false claims of product origin by employing AI for inspections and increasing monitored product items to 67. It plans to hold discussions with the United States in late August, reaffirming its stance to protect honest exporters.
Mrs. Arada Fuengthong, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade. She revealed concerns from the United States regarding transshipment and false origin claims aimed at evading trade measures, stating that Thailand recognizes the importance of these issues and prioritizes preventing the country from being used as a route to circumvent trade regulations of partner countries.
“Thailand is aware of the risks related to transshipment and takes this matter seriously. If false origin claims or illegal acts are found, Thailand is prepared to take legal action and strengthen inspections and cooperation with US agencies continuously. The Department of Foreign Trade is closely monitoring US reports and positions.”
Mrs. Arada said that so far, the Department of Foreign Trade and the Customs Department have continuously reported progress and explained measures to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Thailand has intensified inspections in multiple areas, including linking production and operator data in cooperation with Customs, the Department of Industrial Works, and provincial commerce offices; conducting onsite inspections; retrospective origin verification; and enforcing measures against violators.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Trade has increased the list of monitored products jointly with CBP from 49 items covering 194 customs tariff codes to 67 items covering 274 tariff codes, effective June 1, 2026. It is developing the ROVERs Plus system by incorporating AI to assist in origin verification and risk assessment. Over 2,000 operators have been trained on origin rules and local content. Thailand has not only started these efforts recently but has continuously upgraded its inspection system. From August 28–31, 2026, the Department of Foreign Trade and Customs will meet with US Trade Representatives (USTR) to communicate Thailand’s commitment to preventing and addressing transshipment issues concretely.
“An increase in trade volume might be a signal for scrutiny but is not proof of evasion of trade measures. Changes in supply chains may result from new investments, production base relocations, or increased capacity, which are genuine economic activities. It is important to clearly distinguish these cases from false origin claims or trade measure evasion. Assessing the situation and scale of the problem requires real data and information exchange with the US to identify risks, verify facts, and address issues accurately.”
Mrs. Arada emphasized that Thailand is ready to work constructively with the US based on data, facts, and verifiable evidence to target wrongdoers precisely. At the same time, unnecessary burdens must not be imposed on honest operators. Additionally, Thailand will promote the use of domestic raw materials to build confidence that the country is part of a transparent and reliable global supply chain.
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