Bangkok: The Prime Minister has called upon the Ministry of Commerce to reinforce measures against the counterfeiting of Thai products. This includes establishing new criteria for issuing certificates of origin for 65 products and expediting legal amendments to heighten penalties for companies involved in such counterfeiting activities, ultimately aiming to mitigate the impact on Thai exports.
According to Thai News Agency, Prime Minister Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra shared on social media about her meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and other relevant stakeholders. The discussions focused on measures against product counterfeiting in Thailand and the procedures of issuing Certificates of Origin that influence the credibility of Thai products and the exports of Thai entrepreneurs.
In the immediate future, the Department of Foreign Trade will primarily engage with the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to establish new standards for issuing certificates of origin. They will also monitor false claims related to 65 Thai products, covering 224 tariffs, predominantly industrial goods, to ensure more rigorous inspections.
For long-term solutions, all relevant agencies are urged to urgently revise laws to impose stricter penalties on companies that counterfeit Thai products.
Ms. Shinawatra expressed confidence that with stricter checks on product origins, the prevalence of counterfeit products could significantly decrease within 90 days. This initiative is expected to provide better business opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs, including small and medium-sized enterprises, by enhancing the export of Thai products and raw materials, thereby increasing the overall value of Thai trade.