Bangkok: Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, leader of the Thai Sang Thai Party, has called on the Prime Minister to swiftly establish a Special Task Force chaired by him to tackle the challenges posed by Trump’s recent tax increase. She emphasized the urgency of forming this task force without waiting for the scheduled meeting on April 8.
According to Thai News Agency, Sudarat expressed her concerns about the significant impact Trump’s tax hike could have on Thailand’s economy. The increase poses a threat to various sectors, including agriculture and industry, potentially causing a 1.2% drop in GDP and exacerbating the country’s already sluggish economic state. She warned that this could drive Thailand into recession, increasing poverty and expanding both personal and national debts.
Sudarat urged the government to leverage the crisis as an opportunity by rallying expertise from all sectors, including the private sector, the Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries, the Thai Bankers Association, the SME Council, farmer representatives, economists, academics, and opposition MPs and senators. She also suggested seeking support from ASEAN countries similarly affected by the tariff hike, proposing urgent discussions on the ‘ASEAN’ platform to create a unified bargaining strategy with the United States.
She proposed using the upcoming parliamentary session as a forum for brainstorming solutions, prioritizing discussions on President Trump’s Reciprocal Tariff over the Entertainment Complex Act. Sudarat criticized the latter for lacking protective measures for Thai society and being a lower priority compared to the pressing economic issues caused by the tax hike.
Furthermore, she highlighted opposing views from social leaders who advocate for utilizing the parliamentary recess to consult various organizations, amend laws, and conduct a referendum allowing citizens to decide on high-risk projects affecting their future.
Sudarat concluded by urging the government to reassess its priorities, emphasizing that addressing Trump’s tax increase is a life-or-death issue that requires immediate negotiation and support measures for Thai entrepreneurs and farmers.