Thai Chamber Backs 30% Online Import Tax, Urges SME Support
The Thai Chamber of Commerce backs the government's plan to levy up to 30% tariffs on goods imported via e-commerce platforms to level the playing field for local SMEs. Chairman Poj Aramwattananont said tax collection alone is insufficient and urged authorities to also enforce product standards, platform accountability, and inter-agency data sharing. He emphasized that measures must be paired with support to reduce business costs, boost productivity, and help Thai SMEs access digital markets.
The Thai Chamber of Commerce supports imposing up to a 30% tariff on online imports, urging the state to enforce standards and elevate Thai SMEs. Mr. Poj Aramwattananont, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Thai Chambers of Commerce, revealed that the Chamber agrees in principle with the government's measure to improve tax collection on goods imported via e-commerce platforms at a maximum tariff rate not exceeding 30% to create trade fairness and reduce cost competition disparity, especially for SME entrepreneurs and Thai retail businesses facing price competition from large volumes of imported goods. Previously, Thai entrepreneurs operating legally had to comply with laws on taxes, product standards, and various regulations, while some online imports may have benefited from loopholes in tax collection and product inspection. This rule adjustment is therefore considered an important step to help create fairer competition by placing both Thai and foreign entrepreneurs under the same rules. However, tax collection alone may not be enough. The public sector should emphasize inspection of product standards and safety, alongside defining the responsibility of e-commerce platforms in verifying sellers and products, as well as linking data between relevant agencies to effectively prevent substandard products and tax evasion issues. "The important thing is that this measure should not aim only to increase import costs, but must help Thai entrepreneurs have greater competitive ability as well. The public sector should have supporting measures in parallel, including reducing business costs, increasing productivity, raising product standards, and promoting the adoption of technology and AI to enhance business efficiency, as well as supporting SMEs to access both domestic and international e-commerce markets more," Mr. Poj added. He further stated that this approach aligns with the Reinvent Thailand strategy aimed at restructuring the economy and raising the country's competitiveness threshold, with the Thai Chamber of Commerce ready to serve as a mechanism linking cooperation between the public and private sectors to drive various measures to practical results, both in creating trade fairness and developing the potential of Thai entrepreneurs to grow strongly in the long term. "Our goal is not to block goods from abroad, but to want fair competition. Goods entering the market must have standards, and most importantly, Thai entrepreneurs must get opportunities to develop their potential to be able to compete with their own strength sustainably."
