In order to help in tariff discussions with the United States, Thailand has engaged a lobbying or consulting group, according to Thai Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira. He emphasised that protecting Thailand’s trade and export interests is the main objective of the action, which is being carried out with complete necessity, transparency, and value.
Because the United States has been assigning negotiators at different levels, such as the Department of Commerce, the United States Trade Representative (USTR), and even the Secretary of the Treasury, the negotiating environment has been constantly shifting in recent months, the Finance Minister remarked.
“The Thai government is ready to face any approaches the US may take, which is why it is crucial to have parallel collaboration between the Fiscal Policy Office and the Department of Trade Negotiations to ensure that the negotiations cover all levels and do not put Thailand at a disadvantage,”
he stated.
How much is Thailand spending on US lobbying?
Pichai is in charge of leading the policy-level negotiating team and is crucial in guiding the talks to reflect the changing circumstances. He admitted that the typical monthly cost of employing a lobbying or consulting firm in the United States ranges from US$20,000 to US$300,000.
However, he pointed out that companies with specialised knowledge and solid policy ties to US authorities might charge more in some circumstances, such as “reciprocal tariff” discussions.
“I would like to confirm that this process is transparent and verifiable, as the US has strict regulations on hiring consulting firms under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which mandates that all foreign-related contracts must be disclosed on the US Department of Justice’s website,”
Pichai stated.
A central budget of 97.06 million baht was allocated by the Cabinet on June 10th for FPO to cover the costs of the same negotiating project with the United States. The office went on to explain that the money was split between 9.6 million baht for travel abroad and 87.4 million baht for the engagement of a private company to handle strategic communication and lobbying. It is anticipated that a lobbying company will be hired.
