Bangkok: The Minister of Agriculture clearly emphasized that the agricultural sector must not be used to exchange benefits for US trade negotiations, stating that farmers must be protected and providing information on the impact for the negotiation team to consider in all aspects.
According to Thai News Agency, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narumon Pinyosinwat, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, said that this afternoon she will join a meeting to monitor the US trade measures. As for the Ministry of Agriculture, it must take care of the interests of farmers and provide opinions to those who will travel to negotiate with the United States. Since the Ministry of Agriculture is not a negotiator, it is necessary to provide information and facts about what impact it will have on farmers. Because it will not only affect the country but also export products, it is necessary to look at it carefully.
As for the Swine Raisers Association's opposition to importing pork from the United States, this is one area where the Ministry of Agriculture must reflect information because it is consistent with the direction proposed by the group of activists, including how it will affect consumer health because there are research results on the use of red meat accelerators.
The Minister of Agriculture said that these will be important factors in the decision-making of the negotiating team to present to the United States because when we negotiate anything, we must look at the benefits of Thai people first. However, the Ministry of Agriculture must look after the benefits of farmers. Personally, I do not want the agricultural sector to be exchanged for other sectors, whose owners may not even be Thais. Sometimes, industries that have a surplus with the United States may be foreigners who invest by using Thailand as an assembly or production base. Therefore, it should be considered carefully.