BANGKOK, Thailand – Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun has unveiled seven “Quick Big Win” policies to accelerate trade negotiations, support farmers and SMEs, and address domestic cost-of-living concerns. The announcement followed a meeting with senior officials, provincial commerce officers, and commercial representatives nationwide.
The Minister said their first priority is to accelerate talks with the United States on import tariffs and Regional Value Content (RVC), with the goal of signing an agreement within the year. The ministry also plans to push forward free trade deals with Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the EFTA bloc, while advancing ongoing negotiations with the EU and South Korea, and exploring markets in the Middle East and Africa.
On the border situation, the ministry pledged immediate measures to ease living costs in Thai–Cambodian border provinces through “Blue Flag” low-price markets, while expanding marketing opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs. Domestically, more than 1,300 Blue Flag events are expected this year, projected to cut living costs by over 5 billion baht. The ministry will also revisit the issue of high drug and medical supply costs in private hospitals by introducing cooperative agreements that give consumers more affordable choices.
For agriculture, a new crop calendar will align production of rice, cassava, palm oil, and other staples with demand. Short-term measures include cheaper fertilizers, soft loans, and subsidies of 1,000 baht per rai for more than 4.6 million farming households, alongside efforts to accelerate rice exports.
The ministry also aims to strengthen SMEs through a six-pronged program focusing on market expansion, product value upgrades such as GI goods and Thai Select restaurants, financing support, and digital platforms. Officials project that exports will grow 6–7% in 2025, which will generate 10–12 trillion baht in revenue for the Thai economy. (NNT)
