Thailand-US Relationship in Crisis?

Thailand-US Relationship in Crisis?

By Janpha Thadphoothon

Donald Trump has come up with measures, especially trade policies, that have caused problems in relationships with many parts of the world. Thailand has to deal with the new demands from several places, including from the US.

By the way, one should not associate or attribute what President Trump has done to the US as a state and the general American people. The is the first agreement and should be the basis on how we analyze the situation. Trump is not the US.

Since in plan to cut Thailand's trade benefits (GSP), the relationship between the two states, long believed as a cordial one, has become somewhat strained. For one thing, perhaps the most important one, the announcement to cut the trade privileges, came a week before Thailand's hosting of the big event the 35th ASEAN summit. If anything, this may be perceived as a slap on the face, making Thailand losing its face. As one knows, Thailand is a highly contextualized state. There is nothing hurtful than losing face.


Donal Trump has his reasons. Looking at the statistics, the number tells the story.
Trade in Goods with Thailand - shows that the US is losing the trade balance to Thailand (has been) losing the trade surplus. In 2019, for example, the value of exports were 12,448 million of US dollars, but the volume of imports were 331,872.7 millions of dollars. the surplus was at -19,424.4 millions of dollars.

If anything the two countries have long become good friends. Thais and Americans have been helping each other for along time. Trump may be too direct, but diplomats and officers have to adjust the situation.

 Examples of the US under the Trump administration are abundant. Recently, NATO seems to face problems relying too much on the support of the US. News has it that Macron told the Economist in an article published Thursday that Europe can no longer rely on the United States to defend NATO allies.

As mentioned above the Trump administration has not been popular across the globe. What's happening in Thailand during the 35th ASEAN Summit was just another instance, reminding us ot to rely too much on external power - ASEAN needs to stick together and form a bloc with basic decency and standards of right and wrong.

References

USA Trade Census Bureau (2 Nov 2019). Trade in Goods with Thailand
Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5490.html


Sheena McKenzie and Lindsay Isaac, CNN (2019, Nov 7th). Macron says Europe is facing the 'brain death of NATO'. Retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/07/europe/macron-economist-nato-trump-brain-death-intl/index.html

The Thaiger (30 October 2019). Thailand has 6 months to discuss GSP with US Retrieved from
https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/economy/thailand-has-6-months-to-discuss-gsp-with-us


The Bangkok Post. (31 October 2019) Thai officials headed to USTR for explanation on GSP cut.  Retrieved from https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1783529/thai-officials-headed-to-ustr-for-explanation-on-gsp-cut