DONALD TRUMP’S presidency and policies could raise anxiety and also trigger domestic and international protests but Thailand would benefit from his policies, Thai senior officials and politicians said yesterday.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told Thai envoys in a meeting yesterday that Thailand was ready to work with the US administration no matter who is the president.
“We need to keep up with global trends. There have been changes such as the [US] presidential election. We need to stand firm on our ground, whether it be social or to do with the economy,” he said.

Former prime minister and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that Trump would be positive for Thailand and other Asian countries, as the new leader was less inclined to adhere to existing rules and limitations.
“Thai politics in the eyes of the Western world is full of military coups and protests. I think Trump won’t follow that line of thinking. He may want to boost bilateral ties without bothering about Thai politics,” Abhisit said.
However, he warned that Trump might step up protectionist trade measures because the new US leader saw Asian nations as taking advantage of his country.
Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said there would be both positive and negative effects from Trump’s policies on the global trading system, hence Thailand should prepare for US protectionism.
Thailand’s ambassador to the US, Pisan Manawapat, said he expected the Kingdom to benefit from US policies, which would be revamped under a Trump administration.
“Trump once said Thailand is the oldest Asian ally of the US. And our alliance has indeed been strong,” Pisan told The Nation. “And Trump’s ‘America First’ policy will be fair to those who can benefit the US.”
Pisan said he saw greater potential for Thai companies in the US to expand. “I see their potential to create more jobs there,” he said. “While jobs are the heart of Americans, we could also expand exports and investment capacity. It is a relative gain that we’re talking about.”
Bilateral military alliance could also be an additional benefit, as Trump plans to create “peace through strength”, the envoy said.

Negative impacts
“Thailand has been involved with US troops from the Korean to the Vietnam wars. Our ties have strengthened in the post-World War II era,” he said. “With Trump’s emphasis on military alliances, Thailand would be in a favourable position.”
The US president-elect’s emphasis on counter-terrorism measures could also be a good takeaway for Thailand, he added.
Though Trump’s anti-free trade agenda has been publicly slammed, the Kingdom could take advantage of it by opening fresh economic cooperation processes since some agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), would be nullified by the Trump administration.
“Going back to square one means we can build this partnership in a new framework in a more desirable way,” he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Defence Minister General Udomdej Sitabutr said that he did not expect any negative impacts for Thailand following Trump’s election.
Trump’s image might have worried many people but the president-elect seems to have been more restrained and careful after his poll victory. “I see no reasons to worry,” he said.
On the economic front, there should be no immediate impact on Thai exports to the US, but exporters should get ready for more stringent trade and import rules likely to be imposed by the US next year.
According to Commerce Minister Apiradi, Thai shipments to the US are projected to rise one per cent, valued at US$25 billion this year, but next year’s growth projection is about 3 per cent.
Trump’s election pledge to boost gross domestic product growth to 3.5 per cent per year should also stimulate domestic trade and international trade.
However, his protectionist measures would pose challenges for trading partners, including Thailand, to adapt to the new environment, especially with regard to non-tariff barriers and stringent enforcement of the law on intellectual property rights.
Malee Choklumlerd, director-general of the International Trade Promotion Department, said the US was unlikely to impose higher tariffs on Thai products, especially food, as it relied heavily on food imports. For instance, Americans consume a lot of tuna and shrimp each year, while domestic production is small and unable to meet domestic demand.
Regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade deal, which could be abandoned by Trump, Apiradee said Thailand would continue to study the pros and cons of the deal.
Thailand had been under pressure to join the TPP, as other Asean countries such as Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia are already TPP members.