Anutin Says Military Ties Will Not Be Used as US Trade Leverage Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reiterated on Thursday that Thailand would not use military cooperation with the United States as leverage in tariff negotiations, saying trade and security talks were being conducted separately. Anutin made the remarks during talks with US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, following the government’s rejection of a Bloomberg report that military ties, including the Cobra Gold exercises, could be used as a bargaining tool. The comments reinforced an earlier statement by chief trade negotiator Suphajee Suthumpun that military cooperation was an existing arrangement outside the tariff talks. Cobra Gold 2027 will also proceed unchanged in March under an existing six-year plan. Suphajee will lead a delegation to Washington in late August to seek lower tariffs on the remaining 28% of Thai goods still subject to US duties. Thailand says about 72% have received exemptions. No new defence agreement or specific security initiative was announced after Anutin’s meeting with Colby. #Thailand# #US# #CobraGold# #TrumpTax# #ภาษีทรัมป์#

Thai Trade Chief Says Military Cooperation Is Outside US Tariff Talks Thailand’s chief US trade negotiator, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun, said military cooperation with Washington was an existing arrangement and had not been included in negotiations over US tariffs. Her comments on Thursday followed the government’s earlier rejection of a Bloomberg report that Thailand could use military ties, including the Cobra Gold exercises, as leverage in the talks. Suphajee said the negotiations focused on achieving a balanced tariff agreement. Thailand had instead highlighted its broader economic contribution to the US, including nearly US$20 billion in existing Thai investment and more than $5 billion in planned investment. Defence Ministry spokesman Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri separately said Cobra Gold 2027 would proceed unchanged in March under the existing six-year plan. Suphajee will lead a Thai delegation to the US in late August to seek lower tariffs on the remaining 28% of Thai goods still subject to duties. About 72% have already received exemptions, particularly agricultural and electronics products. #Thailand# #US# #CobraGold# #TrumpTax# #ภาษีทรัมป์#