Criminal investigations involving certain Americans in Thailand contributed to the postponement of tariff discussions between the Thai and US governments, according to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The de facto leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party had earlier volunteered to facilitate these discussions through informal dialogues with allies of US President Donald Trump.
When questioned on Saturday regarding his commitment, Thaksin responded, “We have talked. But unfortunately, they [the US] are now acting on information supplied by various organizations about lawsuits against a number of American citizens.”
Thaksin withheld specifics but implied that the accusations likely involved a recent case against an American academic.
On April 8, Paul Chambers, a lecturer specializing in international affairs at Naresuan University, acknowledged a royal defamation charge stemming from an online presentation he conducted last October about military appointments.
Mr. Chambers has been granted bail as he awaits his trial, yet he still risks having his Thai visa revoked.
The Regional Court of Appeal 6 sanctioned Chambers’ bail on April 9, setting it at 300,000 baht, as reported by Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.
After being charged earlier in the week, Mr. Chambers, whose visa had been cancelled by immigration authorities, was given the opportunity to contest the decision, according to the legal aid organization.
A condition of his bail is that, should he manage to restore his visa while the case proceeds, he must check in with Thai authorities every 30 days.
The US State Department expressed concern over the detention of Chambers, a 58-year-old academic who has resided in Thailand since 1993.
Human rights organizations have echoed the unease surrounding his arrest.
Following a report from Thai officials in the US that the US was requesting a review of specific concerns for upcoming negotiations, the Thai government postponed tariff talks.
Led by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, the Thai delegation called off its planned trip to Washington, pending a rescheduled date, as announced by the Prime Minister.
Last year, Thailand had a trade surplus of $45.6 billion with the United States.
Originally scheduled for April 9, the imposition of a 36% tariff on Thai goods was deferred by President Trump for 90 days to allow non-retaliatory nations a chance to discuss trade issues.
Thaksin noted that the US might also consider the diplomatic relations of other nations with China among various factors affecting tariff decisions.
He advised, “We should remain calm and focus on gathering the necessary information for upcoming tariff discussions,” during an electoral campaign visit in Chiang Mai for the Pheu Thai Party.
He also adapted Trump’s well-known slogan, coining it as “Make Thailand Great Again.”
Thaksin mentioned he would monitor the situation before deciding whether to request judicial permission to travel to the US for the negotiations.
Such permission is required since he is facing charges of lese-majeste and computer crimes from a 2015 interview in South Korea, with his court appearance scheduled for July.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is not directly involved in these discussions, which are designated for the USTR, the US Department of Commerce, and Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce, Thaksin clarified.
Thaksin concluded that the tariff issue serves as a reminder for the government to reassess its global trade position and adjust strategies as needed.
