Bangkok: The Department of Agriculture revealed that 'Narumon', Minister of Agriculture, ordered an immediate suspension of the import of concentrated rubber from abroad after the Rubber Farmers Association submitted a letter inquiring about the reason for the import permit in order to reduce the impact on 1.7 million farmers.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Thammarat Thongmee, Director of the Rubber Division, Department of Agriculture, revealed that in the case of the Rubber Farmers Federation of Thailand sending an open letter to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to inquire about permission to import special formula latex from abroad, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narumon Pinyosinwat, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, has ordered relevant agencies to urgently investigate and has resolved to immediately suspend the import. This is to solve the problem of low rubber prices from the impact of international trade measures, especially the tax collection of the United States, and to comply with the policy of enforcing the Rubber Control Act of 1999 effectively by exercising the power under Section 26 of the said law to control the import of concentrated latex that can be produced domestically.
'This morning, we explained the facts to the operators and asked for their cooperation in delaying the import. We will issue an official circular to all operators,' said Mr. Thammarat.
Dr. Uthai Sonlaksap, President of the Federation of Thai Rubber Farmers Association, said that he would like to thank the Minister of Agriculture for taking swift action and providing justice to more than 1.7 million Thai farmers.