Thai rice exporters fear Thailand may lose US market to Vietnam

11 Sept 01:57 Key points summarised by AI

New 36% reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US will dramatically increase the price of Thai Hom Mali rice to about US$1,400 per tonne, making it uncompetitive against cheaper Vietnamese fragrant rice.
The significant price differential is expected to cause US rice importers to switch from Thai Hom Mali to Vietnamese fragrant rice, threatening Thailand's dominant market share in the US.
Beyond rice, these US tariffs aim to reduce the US trade deficit with Thailand and could severely impact Thailand's GDP growth and other key export sectors like communications equipment, computer disc drives, car tires, and electrical appliances, prompting urgent calls for trade negotiations.

Lamphun in a New Light

Today 15:02 Key points summarised by AI

Lamphun illuminates its ancient city with two concurrent light festivals: the high-tech VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN and the traditional Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival.
VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN transforms historic landmarks into an outdoor gallery, using projections and multimedia to animate Lamphun's history, including Queen Chamadevi's story.
The Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival, part of Yi Peng, fills temples and streets with countless traditional lanterns, symbolizing Buddhist devotion and personal wishes.
These festivals offer a unique after-dark experience, blending contemporary light art with centuries-old Lanna traditions, connecting visitors to Lamphun's past and faith.