Supachai revealed that U.S. ART tax negotiations are scheduled for the end of this month, emphasizing a firm refusal to concede on the country's "red lines," and readiness to use negotiation policies while supporting private sector investment.
On 6 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Supachai Suthumpun, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, stated that technical-level discussions on the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) concerning U.S. Section 301 import taxes will be held at the end of this month. She will personally attend with her technical team. The talks aim to protect the country's interests as much as possible, recognizing that trade policy alone is insufficient since Thailand holds a significant trade surplus with the U.S. Therefore, other negotiation aspects will be employed, such as private sector investments or other supportive measures.
Ms. Supachai addressed proposals from the U.S. side that Thailand cannot accept—referred to as "red lines"—stating Thailand will not concede. Negotiation policies must be used; while technical teams can achieve some results, she needs to engage at the policy level. During her last visit, she spoke with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to gain a broader perspective beyond just trade balance issues. Therefore, her presence is essential.
When asked about proposing 13 additional Thai export products for tax exemption negotiations, Ms. Supachai said Thailand has already secured exemptions for over 2,000 items. Including those covered under Section 232 negotiated earlier, about 72% of products are exempt from taxes, while 28% still incur duties. Thailand’s role is to identify products that can be added to increase exemptions, noting significant progress has already been made.