Does Thailand have leverage to negotiate with the US over new tariffs?

11 Sept 14:07 Key points summarised by AI

The U.S. implemented new tariffs, including a 12.5% levy on Thailand, citing forced labor concerns, marking a renewed push after a prior tariff regime's collapse.
Thailand demonstrates a strong capacity to negotiate and implement reforms, having successfully addressed past U.S. and E.U. concerns regarding labor and human trafficking through comprehensive policy changes.
While current forced labor tariffs have limited direct export impact, Thailand faces a significant risk of further U.S. Section 301 tariffs stemming from industrial overcapacity, especially linked to Chinese investments.
Thailand actively engages with the USTR, leveraging its U.S. investments and seeking adjustments to trade commitments to navigate tariff challenges and reduce the bilateral trade deficit.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Yesterday 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.