Urgent Motion on Trade Discussions with the US to be Opposed
The ongoing trade negotiations between the United States and Thailand have taken a significant turn, with the agreement of a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. This development, facilitated by Malaysia as ASEAN Chair, has enabled the resumption of trade discussions that were previously stalled due to border tension.
The ceasefire, effective from midnight Sunday, was the pivotal moment that has allowed the final tariff negotiations to proceed. Thailand is currently in the last step of consultation on the tariff draft, awaiting the official US tariff announcement, likely within days of August 6, 2025.
The urgent motion, proposed by Sen Gen Sawat Thassana, emphasizes the importance of the ceasefire for preventing further economic damage and enabling stable trade relations. If the ceasefire had failed or negotiations did not conclude, Thailand faced the risk of high tariffs impacting major export sectors such as furniture, rubber, electronics, medical equipment, and machinery.
The US side, led by President Donald Trump, has shown satisfaction with the ceasefire progress and instructed agencies to proceed with tariff negotiation once the border conflict is resolved. The adjusted tariff rate, expected to be announced soon after the ceasefire's confirmation, is aligned with rates agreed upon by other ASEAN countries in ongoing US trade talks.
Notably, the People's Party list-MP Parit Wacharasindhu urged the government to communicate quickly after Cambodia reportedly violated the ceasefire agreement. He also emphasized the need for Thailand to inform the international community about its adherence to the ceasefire and self-defensive actions.
Meanwhile, Lt Gen Sukij Thangthong, a senator, proposed an eight-point plan that includes declaring martial law in seven provinces along the Thai-Cambodian border. Another proposed plan includes shutting down all border checkpoints, suspending all energy exports, and severing diplomatic ties until boundary disputes are fully resolved.
The opposition will submit an urgent motion this week regarding trade negotiations with the United States and the border conflict with Cambodia. The Senate has also approved an urgent motion to discuss assistance for communities affected by the border clashes.
In a poignant moment, Koon Kantho, a resident in Si Sa Ket province, was pictured collecting items from her house destroyed during Cambodia's artillery attacks. This serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the border conflict.
As the situation unfolds, regional stability remains a key concern, with the motion tying the diplomatic border peace to economic trade outcomes. The Senate observed a minute's silence for those killed in the border clashes, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
[1] The Nation Thailand [2] Bangkok Post [3] Reuters [4] Khaosod English
- The ceasefire in the Thai-Cambodian border conflict, brokered by Malaysia as ASEAN Chair, has opened a path for policy-and-legislation discussions regarding tariff rates with the US, as war-and-conflicts have significant implications on politics and general-news.
- The Thai government is currently in the final stages of consultations on the tariff draft, awaiting the official US tariff announcement, and the ceasefire's progress in the border dispute is closely tied to policy-and-legislation on trade, emphasizing the intertwining relationship between war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news.
