Thai PM backs Asean united front on tariffs
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar and the Myanmar junta commander are also in Bangkok for a conference.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra stated on Thursday that Thailand is willing to support Asean’s shared view in negotiating with the United States regarding its mutual levies on imports from nations in the region.
She made the remarks after speaking with Anwar Ibrahim, the excellent minister of Malaysia, at Government House on Thursday. At the request of Ms. Paetongtarn, Mr. Anwar is on a two-day working trip to Thailand.
The two leaders first got in touch when Ms. Paetongtarn traveled to Malaysia on December 16 and they then exchanged a telephone call on April 5.
Ms. Paetongtarn stated that they discussed how Asean could work together to combat US tax increases. She added that the group’s estimated 670 million members make the country a formidable industry and a force to reckon with because of their size and impact.
She stated that Thailand is willing to support the idea of Asean joining forces to gain all member nations at the upcoming Asean meeting and that the subject may be discussed at the meeting.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira will take the Thai committee to Washington for discussions on Wednesday, according to Ms. Paetongtarn.
As nations began lining up for negotiations, President Donald Trump announced on April 9 that there would be a wait on all bilateral taxes, including a 36 % tax on Thailand. A 10 % base tax on all products is still in place on almost all US trading partners, though.
” We have a number of good ideas to give to the US during the discussions. The Thai elite said,” It would be a win-win condition for both parties.”
Thailand’s trade deficit with the US was$ 45.6 billion last year, which was the 11th-largest among all of America’s trading partners.
Other matters discussed with Mr. Anwar, according to Ms. Paetongtarn, included a task to construct a new bridge over the Golok River, which serves as a natural border between Kelantan status in Malaysia and Narathiwat state.
She said that development is scheduled to be finished in 2027.
The prime minister also requested from her Malay equivalent to encourage greater participation between Songkhla Rubber City in Thailand and Kedah Rubber City in Malaysia to support landowners and small businesses on both edges.
She added that they had a discussion about creating a new peace negotiation team to address the continuing conflict in Thailand’s three southeastern border regions.
She added that Malaysia would continue to facilitate discussions between Thailand and the main separatist group, the Barisan Revolusi Nasional ( BRN), adding that the government is willing to give the team more support.
supper with power
While Ms. Paetongtarn’s dad was away from the limelight and the standard procedures, he was speaking with other senior citizens on Thursday night.
At the Rosewood Bangkok Hotel, where former top Thaksin Shinawatra hosted a dinner for Mr. Anwar, safety was increased at the sister of Ms. Paetongtarn’s girl Pintongta.
Thaksin serves Mr. Anwar as an unofficial advisor on Asean matters. This time, Malaysia holds the revolving chair of Asean.
Min Aung Hlaing, the mind of the military dictatorship that overthrew Myanmar’s elected government in 2021, was their meal host.
According to sources, the three gentlemen were scheduled to talk about efforts to revive the tumultuous “five-point discussion” reached by Asean to open the door for peace talks in Myanmar.