Thailand may be unique in handling the domestic prices of products and services. Whenever manufacturers and business operators shoulder higher production costs and ask state units for permission to raise their prices, the Internal Trade Department always rushes to call a joint meeting with them.
Most of the time, the manufacturers and operators come to an “agreement” to maintain prices while authorities monitor the market.
In one recent instance, seven manufacturers and distributors of baby and adult diapers talked with the department and agreed to maintain prices, even after announcing to the local media their plan to increase prices starting in March, in line with…
