Bangkok: Dr. Chanin Chalisaraphong, Vice Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, has expressed strong support for opening Thailand's agricultural market to the United States, projecting a significant growth in exports over the next seven years. He believes this expansion will see agricultural and food exports reaching an impressive 4 trillion baht.
According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Chanin shared these insights during a seminar titled 'Unlocking Thailand's Future to Fight the Global Crisis,' hosted by MCOT Public Company Limited. He emphasized that the proposals from the Thai Chamber of Commerce to the United States are reasonable and feasible, particularly considering President Donald Trump's business-oriented administration. The trade dynamics, including a prospective 20% tariff rate for ASEAN, are seen as an opportunity rather than a hindrance, as they could help boost trade, especially in agricultural goods.
In the previous year, Thailand exported 1 trillion baht worth of agricultural and food products globally, with aims to double this to 2 trillion baht. Dr. Chanin is confident that despite challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, Thailand can achieve its ambitious growth targets. He highlighted that the top raw materials exported from the U.S. to Thailand are cost-effective, helping local food production industries thrive without harming domestic agriculture.
Dr. Chanin assured that the Thai Chamber of Commerce has a clear plan to ensure that imports do not adversely impact local farmers while increasing revenue. He pointed out that a key benefit of the Trump tariff is the potential elimination of false claims that previously affected Thai SMEs, thereby enhancing their competitiveness.
Working collaboratively with the Ministry of Commerce and the Board of Investment (BOI), the Thai Chamber of Commerce is focused on maximizing local content and empowering SMEs throughout the Thai supply chain. Dr. Chanin urged the government to prioritize research and innovation, particularly in agriculture and food sectors, to achieve the ambitious export targets. He also called for policy adjustments in the Ministry of Agriculture to remove existing barriers.
Dr. Chanin concluded that with determination and private sector cooperation, Thailand can hit the 4 trillion baht export target while maintaining a healthy trade balance with the U.S. He is optimistic that this trade expansion will benefit both countries, with Thailand receiving quality raw materials and the U.S. seeing increased exports.