Bangkok (Reuters) -Thhailand's negotiations with Washington about steep trading rates were postponed because the United States asked Bangkok to revise important issues, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinatra said Tuesday.
A new meeting date was planned, she said. The previous date for conversations was April 23.
Thailand is one of the Southeast -Asian countries that are most affected by the measures of US President Donald Trump, with a rate of 36% as a reduction cannot be negotiated before a worldwide moratorium runs in July.
“We are not too slow and we assess problems, including our rates that can be adjusted correctly,” said Paetongtarn, adding that the Thai agricultural output and extra import were being investigated.
The United States were the largest export market in Thailand last year, accounting for 18.3% of the total shipments, or $ 54.96 billion. Washington has set his shortage at Thailand at $ 45.6 billion.
“We consult academics and all parties and do our best in this situation,” she added.
“We protect the agricultural interests as much as possible,” she said, adding negotiations must be beneficial for mutual.
The export of Thai rice fell by 30% in the first quarter and could fall under the predictions of the entire year of 7.5 million tons above the rates, according to Rice the Export Association
Last year, Thailand shed 9.94 million tonnes of rice worth 225.65 billion baht, with the US the third largest market per volume.
The Minister of Finance Pichai Chunhavajira of Thailand, who had joined the discussions in Washington, said that despite the postponement of American negotiations, conversations were still at the level of work. He said he had no plans to travel to the United States soon.
(Reporting by Chayut SetBoonSarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Edit by Martin Petty)
