The US Section 301 tariff measure poses an initial risk exceeding 1.02 trillion baht in Thai goods, reducing overall export growth projections from 8% to 6-7%. Experts are urging expedited action on exemption lists.

Independent economist Atthapol Pisalwanit, a specialist in international and ASEAN economics, revealed that starting July 24, 2025, the United States began collecting an additional 12.5% import tariff on Thai goods under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, following the end of a temporary 10% tariff under Section 122.

The US Trade Representative Office (USTR) justified the action by arguing that Thailand lacks and does not effectively enforce bans on goods produced wholly or partially using forced labor. This allows forced-labor products to enter the US market and supply chains, putting compliant manufacturers at a cost disadvantage.

A separate Section 301 investigation into excess industrial capacity remains ongoing but is not the basis for the current 12.5% tariff and could trigger additional measures in the future.

Pisalwanit identified 11 major product groups at risk, encompassing nearly all Thai exports to the US except USTR-designated exemptions. At-risk categories include electrical appliances and electronics, machinery, rubber products, plastics, processed foods, seafood, rice and rice products, textiles and apparel, furniture, gems, and jewelry. Specific items range from air conditioners, refrigerators, and washing machines to computer storage devices, industrial machinery, vehicle tires, rubber gloves, canned foods, shrimp, tuna, jasmine rice, clothing, footwear, furniture, and refined precious metals and gems. Individual tariff codes must be verified for exemption status.

Exempted goods include essential items and certain raw materials, civil aircraft and parts, pharmaceuticals-related goods, products under Section 232 tariffs (steel, aluminum, copper, vehicles and parts), certain wood products, and some semiconductors. Also exempt are goods that departed their origin port before 12:01 am on July 24, 2025, and cleared US customs before 12:01 am on July 28, 2025, as well as humanitarian donations, media materials, and personal effects in travelers' baggage. However, these exemptions apply only to Section 301 tariffs; goods may still owe standard import duties, Section 232 tariffs, anti-dumping duties, or countervailing duties.

Based on 2024 export data, Thailand shipped approximately $72.212 billion in goods to the US annually. The 11 primary product groups potentially subject to Section 301 tariffs totaled about $58.57 billion yearly. For August–December 2025 (five months), the 11 at-risk groups are projected to export roughly $24.404 billion, or 829.742 billion baht—81.11% of all Thai goods expected to reach the US market in that period.

The Po Teck Tung Foundation provided transportation allowances and supplies to prosthetic recipients, technicians, and volunteers in the 178th Royal Mobile Prosthetic Clinic Project as a merit offering to the late Queen Sirikit, Queen Mother, and Princess Bajrakitiyabha at Hat Yai Technical College in Songkhla on July 24, 2025. Led by Vice-Chairman Wichit Chinwongworakul and Disaster Prevention Head Ratchaporn Prasangthrap, the foundation distributed 500 baht per person in transportation costs and consumer goods to 168 participants, with total program expenses reaching 152,455 baht.

The ceremony was presided over by Songkhla Deputy Governor Chiraivat Manichote. Clinical Professor Dr. Nivet Nanthajit, Secretary of the Prosthetic Foundation, expressed thanks and congratulations to the amputee recipients. Dr. Chatchai Patthamanwiputh, Deputy Secretary, reported on program results, while General Kan Nath Nikrayan, Director of the Veterans' Welfare Office, presented tokens of appreciation to project supporters. The event brought together representatives from various public and private sector organizations, charitable foundations, and Hat Yai Technical College.

The Po Teck Tung Foundation has continuously supported the Royal Mobile Prosthetic Clinic Project since its 165th operation, extending across 14 provinces with contributions valued at no less than 5.4 million baht. Over more than 116 years, the foundation has expanded its programs widely to relieve suffering and improve quality of life across all communities, regardless of race or religion, operating according to its mission: Save Lives, Preserve Lives, Build Lives.

Thailand's agriculture department is warning the northeastern and western coastal regions to brace for heavy rainfall between July 26-30 as a monsoon trough crosses Laos and Vietnam while the southwest monsoon strengthens over the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf. The combination will bring intense, sustained rainfall to some areas, creating dangerous conditions for flash flooding and flash floods, especially in foothill zones and low-lying agricultural areas. The Department of Agricultural Extension is urging farmers in affected regions to jointly assess conditions, survey vulnerable areas, and prepare protective measures by establishing drainage systems and monitoring weather updates continuously.

For disaster relief, farmers must have current agricultural registrations as damage assessments will verify records. Once provinces declare disaster zones, farmers have up to 90 days from the disaster date to apply for assistance. Eligible farmers receive compensation based on crop type: rice at 1,340 baht per rai, field and vegetable crops at 1,980 baht per rai, and permanent tree crops at 4,048 baht per rai, capped at 30 rai per household. District agricultural staff will assess damage together with farmers using official forms, and applicants can track assistance status at https://disaster.doae.go.th/

On July 24, 2025, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), through the National Policy Office for Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (NOPI), joined the Food and Drug Administration, the Competitiveness Fund Management Office, the Agricultural Research Development Office, the National Science and Technology Development Agency, the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, the Food Institute, the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Future Food Trade Association, the University Presidents Assembly, and network partners to organize an event "From Science to Shelf: Positive Lists Accelerating Product Development, Reducing Costs, and Elevating Thailand's Future Food Industry to Higher Value" at Chaturasai Building, 14th floor, NOPI, to announce integrated cross-agency cooperation and accelerate the Positive Lists for Other Function Claims as a mechanism for developing Thailand's future food industry.

The event aimed to announce integrated cooperation between government, research institutions, and the private sector to drive Thailand's future food industry, including reporting on progress and lessons learned from Positive Lists implementation, providing guidance to entrepreneurs on correctly applying Positive Lists for product development and health claims communication, and creating a monitoring mechanism to track Positive Lists benefits for economic impact assessment.

During the event, Deputy Prime Minister and MHESI Minister Yotchanan Wongswatdikul expressed support and announced the cooperation, emphasizing that Positive Lists represent a crucial step in developing the country's innovation infrastructure by reducing costs, shortening timelines, and improving efficiency in future food product development—aligning with MHESI's policy of advancing research and innovation for practical application, fostering an innovation-based economy, and strengthening national competitiveness.

"Positive Lists are a systematic mechanism that enhances agility in innovation development, builds confidence among entrepreneurs and consumers, and transforms Thailand's food industry from basic agricultural production and export toward high-value agriculture and food sectors through innovation-based economics," Yotchanan said.

MHESI will continue supporting Positive Lists implementation by promoting cooperation across all sectors to develop contemporary, standardized knowledge and databases, support commercialization of research outputs, promote Thai entrepreneurs—especially SMEs and startups—to develop innovations and compete globally, and create an innovation ecosystem fostering growth in the future food industry.

Dr. Surajai Satthikunnarat, Director of NOPI, noted that Thailand has long succeeded as the "world's kitchen" through agricultural strength, biodiversity, and entrepreneurial potential. Data from 2025 shows Thailand's future food market is valued at approximately 356 billion baht, growing at an average of 8.6% annually, with health foods and functional compounds representing 89% of the market, reflecting Thai entrepreneurs' opportunity to create added value from local raw materials such as black cardamom, ginger, basil, turmeric, and cocoa into high-value functional compounds and health food products.

A 33-year-old police officer from Sakon Nakhon has died unexpectedly following a motorcycle accident. On July 24, 2025, rescue teams responded at 12:28 a.m. to a motorcycle crash near a sports field on Sakon Nakhon Police Station grounds, where they found an unconscious male victim. Despite immediate CPR efforts and coordination with hospital rescue teams, the officer was pronounced dead at Sakon Nakhon Hospital Center. An autopsy was conducted as standard procedure. The accident has raised questions about sand piles in the road area that may have contributed to the crash. Sergeant Nongrit Chaowarundit, 33, who worked at Sakon Nakhon Police Station, was remembered by colleagues and online communities as a dedicated officer beloved by those around him. His family has brought his body back to Wanorniwat district in Sakon Nakhon for traditional religious funeral rites, with a cremation ceremony scheduled for July 26, 2025.

MTS Gold (Mae Thong Suk) and Kubix have launched pre-orders for the MTS Gold Investment Token, marking Thailand's first digital investment token in the gold trading business. The offering targets investors without time to monitor markets but seeking steady returns plus potential bonuses from gold price gains, with full capital repayment guaranteed after 3 years. Pre-orders opened on July 24, 2025, available through Kubix and Orbix apps with a minimum investment of 10,000 baht.

According to Nathpong Hiranyasiri, CEO of Mae Thong Suk Central Company under MTS Gold group, the token offering has raised capital of no more than 2 billion baht, with at least 90% invested in 96.5% purity gold bars as inventory for the company's 13 gold shops across Bangkok and surrounding areas. The remaining funds support working capital. Token holders receive a fixed 3% annual return, opportunities for bonus returns based on gold price spreads upon the 3-year maturity, 1 gram of gold as a gift per 1 million baht invested, and full principal repayment at maturity.

MTS Gold, operating for over 74 years as one of Thailand's top 3 gold industry operators, manages the token. Gold market momentum in 2025 is expected to benefit from strong investment demand driven by geopolitical tensions, debt and equity market volatility, and ETF gold investments, alongside central bank accumulation and limited gold supply from mining constraints and rising production costs. Kubix Digital Asset, operating under Orbix Group in the financial services of Kasikornbank, is providing the ICO portal platform for the offering capped at 2 billion baht, with individual investors able to subscribe starting from 10,000 baht.