Thailand imposes tax on cheap imported goods to protect domestic businesses

(Dan Tri) - From January 1, 2026, Thailand will collect 10% import tax on cheap goods under 1,500 baht, instead of tax exemption, to protect small and medium enterprises from the wave of low-priced imported goods.

Thailand will start collecting 10% customs duty on cheap imports from 2026, instead of tax exemptions, to protect domestic small and medium-sized enterprises, Finance Minister Ekniti Nithanprapas said, according to Reuters.

Currently in Thailand, imported goods worth 1,500 baht (1.21 million VND) or less are duty-free, while products with higher values ​​are subject to different tax rates depending on the type.

The new measure, effective from January 1, 2026, will help the Thai manufacturing industry and is expected to work with online trading platforms to support tax collection.

Customs duties will be used to protect small and medium-sized enterprises from cheap imports flooding into the country following the global trade war, said Ekniti Nithanprapas.

Thailand seeks to prevent cheap imports and protect domestic production (Photo: Reuters).

The measure will impact e-commerce, logistics and retail, and increase the burden on carriers, which previously handled millions of duty-free parcels, to assess and collect duties, according to law firm Tilleke & Gibbins.

Last year, the previous government approved a 7% value-added tax (VAT) on the same type of cheap imported goods until December. Cheap goods, mainly from China, have hit Thai domestic production and business hard, forcing many factories to close and workers to lose their jobs, leading to pressure for the government to act.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/thai-lan-ap-thue-hang-gia-re-nhap-khau-bao-ve-doanh-nghiep-noi-20251116105935647.htm