November 1, 2024
BANGKOK – Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan held a meeting with 16 government agencies to discuss measures to crack down on the import of cheap, substandard goods from China and on nominees for Chinese businesses.
After the meeting at noon on Thursday, Pichai announced that the crackdown should yield tangible results within a month.
Representatives of 16 government agencies are on the committee in charge of solving issues related to foreign goods and illegal businesses.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra set up the committee on October 25 after Thai SMEs complained that their products could not compete against the cheap goods from China.
When speaking to the press, Pichai did not directly blame China for the issues, but it is known that cheap China-made goods are available via online platforms like Temu and Lazada. Also, he said, many Chinese people reportedly use Thai nominees to run businesses, especially in the Huay Kwang area, which is known as Bangkok’s second Chinatown.
Pichai said he had conveyed the prime minister’s concerns about the influx of cheap goods from abroad at the meeting, adding that the committee will work hard to achieve tangible results within a month.
Protecting Thai producers
Pichai said the committee has set up two subpanels, both of which are chaired by Deputy Commerce Minister Napinthorn Srisanpang.
The first subcommittee is in charge of supporting Thai SMEs and cracking down on poor-quality goods from abroad. It will set up measures for controlling goods’ quality and will negotiate with online platforms to control the quality of imported products.
The second subcommittee will be in charge of cracking down on nominees of foreign businesses, Pichai said.
While avoiding the phrases “goods from China” and “nominees for Chinese businesses”, Pichai said he had discussed the issues with the Chinese ambassador to Thailand Han Zhiqiang on September 26.
Pichai said the ambassador had told him that China would cooperate with Thailand on the issues, as it wanted to maintain good ties with the kingdom.
Pichai added that he will travel to China from November 4 to 6 and will discuss the issues with senior officials there.
“We need to consult on the matter because Thailand still has to depend on China for trade and investments,” Pichai said.
“Thailand needs China’s support on several goods, such as tapioca, cows and steel. We hope the two countries can depend on each other without affecting Thai manufacturers.”
Pichai added that the Chinese online retailer Temu has contacted his ministry, saying it will soon set up a company in Thailand and will strictly observe Thai laws.
“We should see tangible results as instructed by the prime minister within 30 days,” he said.
Controls on food products
The minister added that the Thai Food and Drug Administration will also step up measures to screen imported fruit and vegetables to ensure Thais are not harmed.
Speaking at the same press conference, Yutthana Poolpipat, deputy director-general of the Customs Department, said his department would from now on allow the import of goods that meet standards set by the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI).
FDA secretary-general Surachoke Tangwiwat said his agency will step up the screening of imported food products transported from border markets to selling sites in Bangkok and other provinces.
He added that the FDA will cooperate with the Public Health Ministry to check fresh food products on sale at markets every week to ensure consumers are safe.
Songsiri Jumpol, deputy secretary-general of the Office of the Consumer Protection Committee, said the agency will ensure that all goods sold in Thailand carry labels displaying product quality, not just those controlled by the FDA.
Nonthichai Likitaporn, director of the TISI’s standards division 1, said the institute is cooperating with the Customs Department to close all channels for importing substandard goods.