Washington has exempted 2,120 Thai export products from an additional 12.5% tariff under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974, accounting for more than half the value of Thailand's exports to the United States, the Commerce Ministry said.Exempted products include integrated circuits, hard disk drives, aircraft parts, natural rubber, rubber sheets and blocks, tapioca starch, fresh and processed pineapple, fresh and dried fruit, fresh coconuts and coconut water, and cane sugar.
Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun, who leads Thailand's negotiations with Washington, said on Friday that the government was working urgently to secure a mutually beneficial agreement while preserving the longstanding trade relationship between the two countries.
She said Thailand's goal was not merely to conclude talks quickly but to reach a balanced agreement that would not compromise public health, national security, the public interest or the government's policymaking authority.
The United States launched the Section 301 investigation into Thailand over two issues: structural excess production capacity and the alleged failure to prohibit imports of goods produced using forced labour.
The new measure replaces the previous 10% tariff imposed under Section 122, which expired yesterday.
