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Thailand plans to finalise an agreement on reciprocal trade with the United States by the end of this year, according to Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun.

The two countries concluded a joint agreement on reciprocal tariffs on July 31, and now the government aims to finalise remaining issues including market access for goods, services and investment, she said.

Negotiations are expected to proceed cautiously to avoid negative impacts on domestic industries and markets, the minister said on Tuesday.

In addition, the ministry’s Department of Foreign Trade is now the sole agency to issue certificates of origin for exports to the US, applying artificial intelligence (AI) to verify product origins and taking strict precautions against document forgery.

Verifying the origin of imported goods is a key concern of the US, which suspects Chinese businesses of transshipping many products through other countries, especially in Southeast Asia.

Washington has threatened tariffs of up to 40% on goods that fail to meet local-content requirements, compared to he 19% rate it now applies on Thai goods.

To support exports, Mrs Suphajee said the government also wants to finalise free trade agreements with the European Union and South Korea during the new administration’s brief term.

The ministry also plans to explore new markets in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Africa, Southeast Asia and South Asia.

Faster anti-dumping action

Discussing anti-dumping, anti-circumvention and safeguard measures, the minister said the ministry is streamlining the process by reducing the complaint-filing period from 4 months to 1 month, and using AI to analyse data, shortening the investigation period from 12 months to 9 months.

She said these steps protect trade interests and help Thai businesses counter dumping more effectively.

Regarding substandard imports and nominee businesses, Mrs Suphajee said the ministry had formed a joint committee with 16 agencies and collected 2.18 billion baht in value-added tax from small imports, deployed AI to monitor e-commerce and strictly cracked down on nominee businesses.

She said the ministry is supporting businesses in seven border provinces with Cambodia, offering measures such as low-cost Blue Flag fairs, expanded market channels through fairs in other provinces, online sales via Thailand Post and business matchmaking with logistics providers.

As well, the ministry is continuing with its consumer-protection campaign to require disclosure of medicine prices, allowing patients to purchase drugs outside hospitals, along with price controls for essential medicines and medical supplies.

To support rice farmers in the short term, the government offers credit for delayed sales to prevent a premature market glut, as well as credit support for agricultural cooperatives to collect and process rice, enhanced liquidity for rice traders to stockpile rice, direct financial aid of 1,000 baht per rai, capped at 10 rai per farm household, and other cost-reduction measures.

Mrs Suphajee said government is also expediting government-to-government rice sales, particularly with China, while also pursuing trade with Singapore, expanding rice exports to new markets such as Saudi Arabia, and promoting organic rice in Europe and jasmine rice in the US.

Restaurant operators don’t expect the upcoming eight-day Chinese Golden Week to supercharge the industry’s mood, as the number of Chinese customers might not reach as high a level as last year.

China’s National Day holiday and the Mid-Autumn Festival this year run from Oct 1-8.

China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday, citing the Ministry of Transport, that travel demand during the period is expected to be robust, with a substantial increase in the number of Chinese nationals travelling abroad.

However, the Tourism Authority of Thailand predicts the country will welcome around 200,000 Chinese arrivals from Sept 26 to Oct 8, a 24% drop year-on-year.

Rawat Khongchat, a member of the Night Restaurant Business Trade Association, said restaurant businesses are currently facing negative sentiment from Thai customers, resulting from the sluggish economy, uncertainty surrounding domestic politics and the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

He added that local diners are taking a more cautious approach to spending, resulting in less spending on nights out, which hurts the night restaurant business.

Revenue in the first and last quarters represents a lifeline to these businesses, as they contribute the majority of annual income, he noted.

Moreover, he also observed a drop in the number of Chinese visitors.

“During this Golden Week, the night restaurant business might be boosted, but the number of Chinese diners during this Golden Week will not be as high as before,” he said.

Meanwhile, other growing markets such as India and Europe may not sufficiently offset the decline in Chinese diners, he added.

Kamol Meechaipattanakit, a member of the southern subcommittee of the Restaurant and Goods Product Association, anticipates that the restaurant sector in the South would remain flat or grow slightly in October.

He expects the number of Chinese diners during this long holiday to either match last year’s figures or experience a slight drop.

Mr Kamol urged the authorities to hold promotions to attract travellers from the short-haul markets.

Mr Rawat called on the government to restore tourists’ confidence, especially regarding safety concerns, by tackling negative news about Thailand.

An 84-year-old woman has been left seriously injured after being assaulted and subjected to an attempted rape inside her home.

Rescue volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation received a call from local residents around 3pm on Monday, reporting that the woman had been attacked in her single-storey wooden house beside a canal in Moo 3 of Bang Chalong sub-district in Bang Phli district.

Upon arrival, they found the victim lying on her bed with multiple injuries. She had a broken right little finger, a head wound, severe bruising on her chest, a deep laceration on her left wrist, and another wound behind her ear. First aid was administered before she was taken to a nearby hospital.

The victim told authorities she was alone when an unknown man entered her home late at night, violently beat her and attempted to rape her.

Speaking in broken Thai with what she described as a Khmer accent, the assailant assaulted her until she was badly injured. He remained in the house until around midnight, repeatedly attempting to rape her, before eventually leaving.

Initially, rescuers were informed that the victim had suffered a fall. However, after they spoke with the woman directly, it became clear she had been attacked. Her injuries, including the fractured finger and deep wounds, were consistent with a violent assault.

Neighbours said the woman usually lived with her son, who was away at work during the attack. They added that she normally kept her doors locked and rarely encountered strangers in the area, though migrant workers were often seen passing through in the mornings and evenings. Shocked by the incident, they said they never imagined anyone could inflict such violence on her.

The victim, who was previously in good health, reportedly lost consciousness during the ordeal and only regained awareness later that afternoon, when she managed to open her door and call for help.

Police in Bang Phli on Tuesday arrested a 53-year-old suspect, and said he was a Thai and not a migrant worker as initially speculated and reported on social media, according to a Samut Prakan-based reporter writing on the ????? ?????? Facebook page.

Investigators have detained the suspect, identified only as Jo, after CCTV video and scratch marks found on his body raised strong suspicions. Under intensive questioning, he confessed to the crime.

Police said Mr Jo admitted to scaling the side of the elderly woman’s home after drinking strong liquor and becoming drunk. He told officers that he covered her mouth with his right hand and molested her, before striking her twice when she resisted. He claimed he did not inflict further physical harm.

He further confessed to attempting rape, but said he was unable to complete the act. According to his testimony, he fled the scene after the victim began chanting prayers, which caused him to feel remorse.

Investigators have charged Mr Jo with assault and indecent acts, while additional charges of night-time trespassing and rape are pending the results of medical examinations and further evidence.

Police have opposed bail and will seek to remand the suspect into custody when he is brought to the Samut Prakan Provincial Court on Thursday.

Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has submitted a petition for a royal pardon for his one-year jail sentence, his lawyer said on Monday.

He was jailed earlier this month after the Supreme Court ruled that he did not serve his initial prison sentence after spending six months in a VIP room of a hospital following his return from 15 years of self-exile in August 2023.

Thaksin, 76, was initially sentenced to eight years in jail for conflicts of interest and abuse of power while he was prime minister from 2001 to 2006. His sentence was later commuted to one year by the king.

Thaksin’s request for royal pardon, a process available to all prisoners who have completed their legal cases, could lead to the reduction of his current prison time.

“The petition was submitted,” Winyat Chartmontree told reporters, adding, “This is a right of every inmate.” The former PM has been in Thai politics for around thirty years, winning nearly every election since 2001.

The continued appreciation of the baht against the US dollar, if left unaddressed, could weaken Thailand’s competitiveness in both tourism and exports relative to its regional peers, cautions SCB EIC, the research centre under Siam Commercial Bank (SCB).

Yunyong Thaicharoen, chief economist at EIC, said the baht’s strength is inconsistent with Thailand’s subdued economic fundamentals, warning that the baht may serve as an amplifier of external shocks, hurting export competitiveness and tourism recovery.

Amid the baht’s appreciation, the Vietnamese dong has depreciated by 3.5% against the dollar year-to-date. This divergence is expected to reduce Thailand’s competitiveness in exports and tourism.

“For example, a Chinese tourist visiting Thailand would face prices of goods and services roughly 4% higher than other destinations. If that tourist were to visit Vietnam instead, they would pay about 6% less on average, based on EIC’s simulator,” Mr Yunyong explained.

EIC projects the baht to strengthen further to 31.50-32 to the dollar this month and to 31-32 year-end.

Year-to-date, the baht has appreciated by 7.6% against the dollar — its strongest level in four years and the highest among regional peers.

This has led to the baht’s trade-weighted index to reach its highest level since the 1997 financial crisis.

The appreciation has been driven by both external and domestic factors, especially the weakening US dollar, higher gold exports amid rising global prices, a current account surplus and capital inflows into the bond market.

According to Mr Yunyong, foreign tourist arrivals remain well below last year’s level, but signs of a recovery are emerging. Chinese arrivals are still down year-on-year, though the contraction is narrowing. Returning tourists, however, are spending more cautiously.

Thailand also faces rising competition for Asian tourists, with overlapping target segments across regional peers. EIC maintains its forecast for international tourist arrivals in 2025 at 32.9 million.

In addition, EIC highlights concerns over the rising unemployment rate, particularly among new graduates, reflecting the impact of sluggish business expansion.

The unemployment rate for those aged 15-24 rose to 18.9% in the second quarter of 2025, up from 16.1% in the previous quarter.

Amid weaker economic growth and sluggish business expansion, employment has continued to slow, impacting the labour market. Businesses prefer hiring experienced workers over new graduates in response to the challenging economic conditions.

“AI disruption is another key factor contributing to the rise in youth unemployment, a trend that has become increasingly evident in the United States,” Mr Yunyong said.

Meanwhile, EIC has trimmed its forecast for GDP growth for 2025 to 1.8% from 2.0% previously, and anticipates a potential decline to 1.5% in 2026.

Marking three decades of success in Vietnam, Thailand’s leading paint and chemical manufacturer is charting an ambitious path forward. Under the theme ‘Painting Dreams, Building Futures,’ TOA Paint (Thailand) Public Company Limited or TOA has unveiled a vision to expand its business, strengthen its leadership in innovation, and drive sustainable growth in the Vietnamese market, reinforcing its standing as a trusted brand for consumers and partners alike.

Founded as Thailand’s No. 1 paint brand, TOA has steadily expanded across ASEAN. Beginning with the import of premium-quality paint from Japan in 1964, the company entered Vietnam in 1995 with the establishment of TOA Paint (Vietnam) Co., Ltd., reflecting its philosophy of ‘fishing in the ocean’ by growing beyond domestic borders to become a key regional player.

Today, TOA’s comprehensive product portfolio spans decorative paints, wood coatings, industrial coatings, construction chemicals, ready-mix mortars, tiles, gypsum boards, and JOMOO sanitary ware. Its breadth of offerings has enabled it to outperform several global top-five competitors and consolidate its position as a major force in ASEAN. The company now operates production plants in seven countries: Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia and Malaysia, underlining its regional success and growth potential.

Mr Jatuphat Tangkaravakoon, CEO of TOA, noted that entering the Vietnamese market three decades ago was a strategic step that embodied TOA’s philosophy of ‘thinking ahead, acting first.’ Leveraging its expertise and innovation from Thailand, the company successfully tapped into Vietnam’s dynamic real estate sector and resurgent industrial production, paving the way for sustained growth and recognition as a regional industry leader.

TOA Vietnam’s performance has been outstanding, recording average annual sales revenue of over THB 1.5 billion in the past three years. Its distribution network now covers more than 1,200 retail stores and major projects nationwide. TOA’s commitment to R and D has yielded climate-appropriate innovations, such as heat-reflective coatings, mould-resistant formulas and eco-friendly solutions. These advances earned the Golden Dragon Awards 2023 in the ‘Premium Products’ category, further cementing support from contractors and designers. Overseas markets currently contribute around 15% of TOA’s total revenue.

In November 2023, TOA (Vietnam) opened a state-of-the-art distribution centre in Ho Chi Minh City to bolster production and logistics capacity. Equipped with automated systems and LEED Gold-certified processes, the centre enables a fivefold increase in storage and distribution while cutting CO‚ emissions through reduced fossil fuel use, a tangible step in TOA’s sustainability journey, reaffirming its commitment to preserving the environment and reducing impacts on climate conditions.

Looking ahead, the company plans to expand its market coverage and product portfolio, with a strong focus on construction chemicals to provide end-to-end solutions. It will continue investing in eco-friendly innovations, including low-VOC paints certified with Singapore’s Green Label, aligning with both consumer demand and government sustainability policies. Brand reinforcement will involve closer collaboration with customers, partners and distributors, restructuring distribution channels, and establishing more regional hubs in remote provinces to serve millions of consumers more effectively. This also includes increasing the production efficiency to strengthen the TOA’s sustainable growth along with consumers.

Mr Jatuphat emphasised that over its 61 years in Thailand and 30 years in Vietnam, TOA has consistently upheld its leadership in paints and chemicals across Southeast Asia. ‘We are committed to sustainable growth founded on good governance and transparency, aiming to create long-term happiness for future generations while supporting community and environmental development,’ he said.

He expressed gratitude to stakeholders, customers, partners and employees, whose trust and dedication have been central to TOA’s success. With decades of experience, he added, TOA is confident it will continue to hold a strong place in consumers’ hearts while advancing its presence across ASEAN.

A father who parked illegally outside a popular Bangkok school to pick up his child and reacted violently when police clamped his car has been fined and given a suspended jail sentence

The case drew wide attention after a video showed him hurling abuse at officers and toppling a police motorcycle while his young child watched from the car.

He loudly declared he had stopped ‘just five minutes’ to pick up his child.

According to the Metropolitan Police Bureau, the incident occurred about 2.25pm on Sept 26, when traffic police from Samsen station found the car stopped in a no-parking zone in front of the school.

The driver refused to move and instead angrily pushed over a police motorcycle, causing damage, before being taken into custody.

He was initially charged with failing to pay annual road tax and obstructing traffic. After confessing, the case was forwarded to the Dusit District Court, which found him guilty under Sections 91, 358 and 368 of the Criminal Code for disobeying a lawful order and causing property damage.

The court sentenced him to two months in jail, fined him 12,000 baht, and ordered he pay 10,000 baht compensation. The jail term was suspended for one year.

Thailand has recorded 33 cases of the new Covid-19 strain XFG so far this year, most of them in Bangkok, according to the Department of Medical Sciences.

The department said on Tuesday that XFG, also known as Stratus, has become the dominant Covid-19 strain worldwide and case numbers are rising. However, there is no evidence to show that its symptoms are more severe than those caused by other strains.

Thailand recorded its first XFG case in April and as of Sept 24 there were 33 cases, 23 in Bangkok, said Dr Yongyot Thammavudhi, the department’s director-general.

‘Most cases had mild symptoms such as fever, coughing, sore throat, runny noses and headaches. No one had to be admitted to a hospital,’ he said.

From April 1 to Sept 24, the department reviewed 608 Covid-19 cases and XFG constituted only 5.4% of all strains found during the period, Dr Yongyot said.

‘Although the XFG strain has not caused severe symptoms, people should always protect themselves by washing hands frequently and avoiding crowded places,’ he said.

‘If you have irregular symptoms including fever, coughing or breathing difficulties, you should quickly meet a doctor for diagnosis and proper treatment.’

The Department of Disease Control earlier reported that for the year to July 14, Thailand had 589,352 reported cases of Covid-19 and 239 fatalities.

PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP), represented by Ms Sopitta Chotechuang (2nd right), Senior Vice President for Branding, Communications and Knowledge Intelligence Division, presented a sponsorship of 20 million baht to the Football Association of Thailand under the Patronage of His Majesty the King (FAT) for the second consecutive year. Receiving the contribution were Pol Gen Winai Thongsong (2nd left), Central Committee Member of FAT, and Mr Ekapol Polnavee (first from left), General Secretary of FAT. The sponsorship aims to strengthen the capabilities of Thai football players and sports personnel through initiatives such as hiring professional coaches, providing equipment, improving training facilities, and supporting both domestic and international competitions. The handover ceremony was held at the Energy Complex Building, Bangkok. This partnership is part of the memorandum of understanding to support national sports development in line with the government’s ‘One Sport, One State Enterprise Plus’ policy for 2024-2030, which promotes sport as a driver of Thailand’s soft power.

The opposition People’s Party has sharply criticised the government of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul for pressing ahead with the controversial southern Land Bridge project, despite longstanding doubts about its financial and environmental viability.

In parliament on Tuesday, People’s Party MP Pukkamon Nun-anan questioned why the coalition, which has agreed to spend only four months in office, continues to tout the Land Bridge as a priority project, even though it was absent from the formal policy statement it presented on Monday.

The project envisions a 90-kilometre transport corridor linking two large new ports in Ranong on the Andaman coast and Chumphon on the Gulf of Thailand, aimed at offering an alternative to the congested Strait of Malacca.

Ms Pukkamon, however, argued that the economics do not add up.

Unlike a direct maritime route, she said, the Land Bridge would require unloading cargo, transporting it overland and reloading it onto another vessel, which adds cost and logistical hurdles that make it unattractive to shipping firms.

She pointed to government studies that predict the project would break even in 24 years, generating 58 billion baht in its first year, largely from fuel sales to cargo ships.

But to achieve such figures the project would need to sell 140 million tonnes of fuel annually, more than triple the current sales made in Singapore.

‘These numbers are implausible,’ Ms Pukkamon said, accusing state agencies of inflating forecasts to justify the scheme.

While the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy claims the project would yield 260 billion baht in profits, a National Economic and Social Development Council study projected a loss of 120 billion baht, even when broader economic benefits were factored in, she said.

Environmental experts also warned of at least one billion baht in lost fisheries income per year, while six World Heritage sites along the proposed corridor face severe risks, she added.

Ms Pukkamon accused the government of using the Land Bridge as a campaign tool to woo southern voters, rather than focusing on realistic development.

Over the past two years, Thailand has wasted valuable time as the Srettha Thavisin and Paetongtarn Shinawatra administrations pushed ahead with costly roadshows abroad to promote the Land Bridge, despite lacking clear figures on its viability, she said.

In the end, not a single credible investor emerged, according to Ms Pukkamon.

With only four months remaining in office, even the most skillful negotiations are unlikely to convince anyone to fund the project if the government insists on moving forward, she said.