U.S. to Impose 36% Tariff on Thai Imports, Effective Aug 1

BANGKOK, July 8 (TNA) - The United States will implement a 36% import tariff on all Thai products starting August 1, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced in a letter dated July 7 to Thailand's Acting Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit. 

The move, also shared on Truth Social, aims to address a "significant and unsustainable trade deficit" with Thailand, which the U.S. attributes to Bangkok's non-reciprocal tariffs, non-tariff policies, and trade barriers.

Trump warned that goods transshipped to evade the tariff would face higher rates, noting that the 36% figure is still below what is needed to eliminate the existing trade imbalance. He offered tariff exemptions for Thai companies establishing manufacturing in the U.S., promising swift approvals.

Conversely, Trump stated that any new Thai tariffs would be added to the 36% rate. While asserting the necessity of these measures for U.S. economic and national security, the letter also expressed a willingness to adjust tariffs if Thailand opens its markets and removes existing trade barriers, emphasizing that the rates "may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship."

Beyond Thailand's unchanged 36% rate, the U.S. President also outlined new or maintained tariff rates for 13 other nations, effective August 1: Laos and Myanmar will face 40% (down from 48% and 44% respectively), Cambodia 36% (down from 49%), Bangladesh and Serbia 35% (both down from 37%), Indonesia 32% (unchanged), Bosnia and Herzegovina 30% (down from 35%), South Africa 30% (unchanged), while Japan and Malaysia will see increases to 25% (up from 24%). Kazakhstan's rate will drop to 25% (from 27%), with South Korea remaining at 25%, and Tunisia decreasing to 25% (from 28%). - 819 (TNA)