In the frantic ballet of international trade negotiations, Thailand has rolled out its sleek proposal to the United States, hoping to tiptoe gracefully past a looming tariff hurdle. With the clock ticking towards a nail-biting July 9 deadline, Thai Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira confirmed the country’s most recent charm offensive to avoid a steep 36% levy on Thai imports by the U.S., a dramatic increase over the current cap of 10% that they’re temporarily enjoying. For Thailand, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The U.S. stands tall as Thailand’s premier export market, reigning supreme over 18.3% of their global shipments last year, a handsome bounty valued at nearly US$55 billion. However, this bilateral tango has Washington wincing at its trade deficit with Thailand, reported to be a whopping US$45.6 billion. That’s quite the imbalance, akin to a dance partner stepping two feet ahead. The central theme behind Pichai’s latest lyrical proposal?…
