Worawong is confident that 2026 will be another golden year for Thai exports, which will help drive economic recovery and lift Thailand out of Asia's 'sick man' status. He is concerned about the continued volatility of U.S. tax policies and recommends accelerating free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations to keep pace with Vietnam.
24 Feb 2026 GMT+7 Mr. Worawong Ramangkul, former Assistant Minister of Commerce, shared a positive outlook on the direction of Thailand's economy. He stated that 2026 will be another "golden year for exports," following last year's success, after January's export figures grew by as much as 24.4%, reflecting the strength of the export sector and the structural efficiency of Thailand's economy.
This growth is directly driven by continuous investment over the past two years, especially in modern industries with high added value, which will serve as a key foundation for sustained export expansion. Meanwhile, the industrial sector started the year with positive signs, as industrial product exports in the latest month rose by 29.8%, marking the 22nd consecutive month of growth, reflecting the competitiveness of Thailand's manufacturing sector in the global market.
Worawong further explained that in the global trade context, U.S. tax policy remains a major risk factor for exporting countries worldwide. Although the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled on trade measures and the U.S. president announced a 15% universal tariff on imports worldwide within 150 days to address trade deficits—replacing the previous reciprocal tariff measures—the impact on Thailand is still manageable with appropriate policy preparations.
At the same time, Thailand has positive lessons from the past. During the period when the U.S. applied reciprocal tariffs, the Pheu Thai government successfully negotiated to reduce import tariffs on Thai goods from 36% to 19%, helping to sustain exports and maintain Thai exporters' competitiveness amid foreign pressures. This shows that proactive negotiations and understanding of global trade structures remain crucial mechanisms to mitigate the impact of trade barriers and may even turn new challenges into opportunities.
If Thailand can maintain economic momentum, exports will be the leading force for the economy this year and will clearly drive economic recovery. It is confident that Thailand's GDP can return to growth levels of 3-5%, supported by exports, investment, and the concrete recovery of the industrial sector, enabling Thailand to escape its status as Asia's sick man.
Additionally, political stability and clear economic policy directions from the government, with Pheu Thai as a coalition partner, will be key factors in building confidence among domestic and foreign investors, especially policies focused on economic stimulation alongside upgrading modern industries and accelerating international agreement negotiations.
Regarding progress in free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between Thailand and the European Union, which has 27 member countries, this is seen as another important driver for exports. It will help expand opportunities for Thai products to enter the European market and reduce tariff barriers, aligning with the strategy once set by Mr. Pichai Naripthaphan, former Commerce Minister of Pheu Thai, who pushed for FTAs to enhance Thai exporters' competitiveness in the long term.
It was also compared that currently, Vietnam has FTAs covering more than 60 countries, while Thailand has only 24. This has enabled Vietnam to attract foreign investment and achieve rapid economic growth over recent years. If Thailand accelerates key FTAs, especially with the European Union, alongside serious strategic industrial promotion policies, it will help close the competitive gap with neighboring countries and significantly upgrade Thailand's economic potential.
In closing, Worawong also stated that the collaboration among coalition parties and the economic team is expected to continuously and concretely drive policies on investment, industrial structural upgrading, and advancing key FTAs. This will not only boost confidence in the business sector and capital markets but also create jobs, increase income, distribute wealth regionally, and allow the public to clearly see economic recovery in 2026.