Thai PM Confident on U.S. Tariff Deal at UN Assembly

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, accompanied by his wife Thannanon, departed Bangkok's Air Force Base 2 on September 20, 2026, to attend the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York from September 20-27, 2026, followed by visits to Japan and the United Kingdom. The delegation included Paiboon Nalintharngkur, chairman of the Thai Capital Market Business Council, and Asadej Kongsiri, chief executive of the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

Regarding U.S. tariff negotiations, Anutin clarified he is not initiating the talks and has no scheduled meeting with the U.S. president, but Thailand's negotiating team reports everything is proceeding as expected. He stated that Thailand has already obtained its desired tariff rate but the U.S. has raised additional conditions that need to be resolved. Anutin said Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphatchiree Sutthammaphan is confident the deal can be finalized without substantive changes.

When asked if discussions would run smoothly, Anutin noted Suphatchiree's confidence and said he would consult with her again. During his New York visit, he expects to speak with representatives from Suphatchiree's office and the U.S. Trade Representative, with everything proceeding within the agreed framework. He added that the government is trying to achieve the best possible outcome, and when a draft is ready it will be sent to each country's leadership for final discussion or telephone talks.

Asked about obstacles to trade talks, Anutin said negotiators have reported no insurmountable issues. He explained that negotiations naturally involve both sides proposing extreme positions before reaching mutually acceptable conclusions. When asked if he would raise the Thailand-Cambodia joint statement issues with the U.S. president if they meet, Anutin said if the opportunity arose, he would discuss it, though his primary purpose is attending the UN General Assembly.