The year Trump’s tariffs shook up the Thai and global economies

10 Sept 22:03 Key points summarised by AI

In 2025, former US President Trump initiated a global trade war with aggressive "reciprocal tariffs" on goods from approximately 90 nations, causing widespread economic uncertainty and impacting stock markets.
Thailand was significantly affected, facing tariffs as high as 36% due to accusations of high effective tariff rates and a substantial trade surplus with the US.
Trump leveraged tariffs as a political tool, pausing implementation for negotiations and using them to mediate regional conflicts, such as reducing tariffs on Thailand and Cambodia after a peace deal.
Trade negotiations between the US and Thailand stalled over American demands for zero tariffs on US goods and specific purchases, despite an initial boost in Thai exports as importers rushed to beat new tariffs.
The Bank of Thailand responded to the economic slowdown and export uncertainties caused by the tariffs by cutting its key policy rate, projecting slower economic growth for the coming years.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Yesterday 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.