A surge in cheap Chinese products flooding Thai markets, particularly through e-commerce platforms, has prompted Thai authorities and organisations to seek measures to protect local producers. The influx has negatively impacted local small manufacturers of household goods and has boosted calls for the Revenue and Customs departments to expedite their efforts in controlling this wave of low-cost goods.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently advocated for tighter scrutiny on customs declarations, following numerous instances where importers under-declared the value of their goods to benefit from value-added tax (VAT) and import tariff waivers.
A key factor behind the flood of Chinese products is a tax and tariff waiver. To support local businesses, Thailand waived the import duty and VAT on imported parcels with combined prices and cost, insurance,…
