Mr. Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit, Minister of Labour, stated that in response to President Donald Trump’s formal notice to impose a 36% import tariff on Thai goods from August 1, 2025, all relevant parties are currently engaged in negotiations. He expressed confidence that these discussions would lead to a successful and mutually agreeable resolution, noting that tariff decisions are subject to review at any time.
The Ministry of Labour is confident that this development will not impact Thailand’s employment rate, which is expected to remain positive. He explained that, year on year, businesses open and close as part of a normal economic cycle, regardless of overall economic conditions. Furthermore, more people are hired than made redundant each year, reinforcing labour market resilience.
Nonetheless, the Ministry is pushing forward with multiple policies to maintain employment levels and ensure comprehensive and equitable support for all labour groups.
The Ministry of Labour also plans to convene a multi-agency meeting to prepare a strategic response to the increased tariffs, including the introduction of urgent relief measures to support affected businesses and workers across all dimensions.
“I am confident that all parties involved in the negotiations will reach a shared understanding. Tariffs can be reviewed at any time, and August 1 is not a final deadline; discussions will continue beyond that date if necessary. All stakeholders are still closely monitoring the evolving situation,” Mr. Pongkawin said.
As a proactive measure, the Ministry of Labour is also accelerating efforts to upskill the workforce, particularly in technology and AI, to enhance the global competitiveness of Thai workers and ensure the country can adapt sustainably to shifts in modern industry.
