BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s finance and commerce ministers will lead a delegation to the United States to meet Trump administration officials and push for relief from planned heavy tariffs, a government spokesperson said on Monday.
An advance team led by Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira will travel to the United States on Thursday for meetings with private sector groups, with Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan to join later, spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub said.
The Thai delegation expects to meet with U.S. government representatives on Monday, April 21, he said.
Thailand is facing a 36% tariff under U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade measures, and is hoping to use a 90-day pause on the levies to prepare a response.
The United States was Thailand’s largest export market last year with shipments of $55 billion. Washington has put its bilateral trade deficit with Thailand at $45.6 billion.
Thailand’s strategy will focus on industries where the U.S. and Thailand share interests, such as pet food, opening markets, and increasing U.S. imports, Jirayu said.
He also said there would be stricter inspections on Thai exports to ensure other countries were not using Thailand to circumvent U.S. taxes.
Thai officials have previously said they would increase U.S. imports, cut tariffs on corn and increase joint investments in the United States.
(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Thanadech Staporncharnchai, Orathai Sriring, Kitiphong Thaichareon; Editing by John Mair)
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