Anutin orders the Ministry of Commerce to expedite closing the U.S. tariff deal before the 24 July deadline, fearing Thailand may fall behind and lose momentum in the global trade arena.
On 2 June 2026, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced after the Cabinet meeting that Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul has issued a directive emphasizing the Ministry of Commerce and related agencies to accelerate negotiations on tax measures with the United States to reach a clear conclusion as soon as possible.
Ms. Ratchada added that the Prime Minister assessed that the U.S. has already reached trade agreements with several countries, including ASEAN members and major economies such as the European Union, Japan, and South Korea. This has left Thailand with a limited timeframe to negotiate. Therefore, he assigned Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Supachai Sutthumpan to lead the urgent negotiation efforts before the current tariff rates expire on 24 July 2026.
“The Prime Minister stressed that this issue is not the responsibility of any single ministry but affects the competitiveness of exports, entrepreneurs, farmers, and Thai workers across the board. The work must be swift and efficient but also careful, prioritizing the country's highest interests,” said the Prime Minister's Office spokesperson. She added that the government aims to finalize constructive results and proposals between the two countries before the U.S. announces its findings on trade measures under Section 301.
Ms. Ratchada concluded that this government will not allow Thailand to lose pace or fall behind in global trade trends. Going forward, all agencies at both policy and technical levels will intensify close coordination to protect the interests and rights of Thai businesses and citizens to the fullest extent.