Anutin says land bridge project frozen, not abandoned
The trillion-baht land bridge project has not been scrapped but has instead been put on hold and will be revived at the "right time," Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said today.
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The trillion-baht land bridge project has not been scrapped but has instead been put on hold and will be revived at the "right time," Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said today.
The one-trillion baht land bridge project, intended to open a major logistics route between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea by train and motorway, has finally been shelved due to its lack of economic feasibility, risk of financial loss and environmental impacts.
During the ASEAN Summit in the Philippines, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow has asked his US counterpart, Marco Rubio, for help Thailand to avoid the new 12.5% tariff being imposed on Thai imports, and those from 59 other countries.
A 12.5% import tariff imposed by the United States under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act could threaten Thai exports worth more than 1 trillion baht over the final five months of the year, trimming full-year export growth to 6–7%, according to a prominent trade expert.
Thailand is stepping up efforts to strengthen economic ties with Europe by racing to finalise the free trade agreement with the European Union by the end of 2026, the Thai-EU FTA. Experts say, however, that Thai businesses doing trade with the bloc need to prioritise the traceability of their exported goods.
A 16-year-old Thai guitarist, Nene Royal (Rattikarn “Praew” Amloy), has captured global attention after passing the audition round of America’s Got Talent (AGT), the popular television talent competition, offering visions of growth for Thailand’s creative economy.
Formal pawnshops have been a feature of Thai society for nearly a century, serving as a safety net whenever families run out of cash. Yet many borrowers have a limited understanding of these transactions, often misjudging the true cost of short-term credit.
The Trump administration on Friday will impose new tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners, including Thailand, over allegations of lax enforcement of forced labor bans, just as a temporary 10% global tariff expires.
The Ministry of Commerce is moving swiftly to absorb and distribute 300,000 tonnes of Southern durian amid fears of a market glut caused by a slowdown in Chinese imports, after shipments containing immature fruit were detected.
Customs and foreign trade officials have staged a major joint operation today at Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri province, seizing Chinese imports worth more than 101 million baht and falsely labelled "Made in Thailand" to exploit trade privileges for export.
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has ordered a study into the long-term phasing-out of cargo operations at Bangkok Port in Khlong Toei, aiming to consolidate the nation's maritime trade at Laem Chabang Port and redevelop the prime 376.8 hectares of riverside land into a casino-free entertainment complex.
The director general of Thailand’s Livestock Development Department will soon travel to China in an attempt to convince Chinese authorities about the quality of frozen chicken legs, after the products from five Thai companies were banned by Chinese customs officials.