Thai Pork Industry on Brink as Trump's US Imports Loom Large.
The Thai pork industry is facing an existential crisis as cheaper US imports are set to flood the market. With a value of over $3 billion, Thailand's domestic pig farmers have long dominated the supply chain, but the arrival of giant hog farms from the world's third-largest pork producer threatens to disrupt their business model.
President Trump's trade deal with Thailand is expected to grant duty-free access for US pork imports, with tariffs set at 19 percent. The Thai government has agreed to allow cheaper, subsidized US pork into the market, which is fattened up on ractopamine – a livestock additive banned in many countries, including Thailand.
Pork farmers and industry experts warn that the influx of cheap US imports could put food security at risk, as prices may drop below sustainable levels for domestic pig farms. Worawut Siripun, deputy secretary-general of the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand, fears that producers will be forced to stop raising pigs due to falling profits.
The risks extend beyond just farmers, however. Feed crop farmers and animal feed traders are also bracing for tough times as corn prices skyrocket on the global market. Corn is a key ingredient in pig feed, making it essential for the entire supply chain. Thailand has announced plans to lift its annual corn import limit and scrap tariffs in an effort to appease Washington.
Trump officials have secured preferential access to Thailand's rare earths, billions of dollars in aircraft sales, and a promise from Bangkok not to tax US digital services companies as part of their trade deal. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is under pressure to deliver on his campaign promises while navigating the country's economic challenges.
As Thailand prepares for new elections, which are expected to take place in the coming weeks, concerns about food security and industry stability have reached a boiling point. Weerayut Karnchuchat, deputy leader of the opposition People's Party, has called on the government to pause trade talks with the US until local stakeholders can be consulted.
For many mid-sized businesses, including durian farmers like Tipok Lertwattanaweerakul, the return of Trump and his trade war has made for a disastrous year. With demand depressed across countless supply chains exposed to the US, profit margins have been slashed, and business is dwindling.
The Thai pork industry is facing an existential crisis as cheaper US imports are set to flood the market. With a value of over $3 billion, Thailand's domestic pig farmers have long dominated the supply chain, but the arrival of giant hog farms from the world's third-largest pork producer threatens to disrupt their business model.
President Trump's trade deal with Thailand is expected to grant duty-free access for US pork imports, with tariffs set at 19 percent. The Thai government has agreed to allow cheaper, subsidized US pork into the market, which is fattened up on ractopamine – a livestock additive banned in many countries, including Thailand.
Pork farmers and industry experts warn that the influx of cheap US imports could put food security at risk, as prices may drop below sustainable levels for domestic pig farms. Worawut Siripun, deputy secretary-general of the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand, fears that producers will be forced to stop raising pigs due to falling profits.
The risks extend beyond just farmers, however. Feed crop farmers and animal feed traders are also bracing for tough times as corn prices skyrocket on the global market. Corn is a key ingredient in pig feed, making it essential for the entire supply chain. Thailand has announced plans to lift its annual corn import limit and scrap tariffs in an effort to appease Washington.
Trump officials have secured preferential access to Thailand's rare earths, billions of dollars in aircraft sales, and a promise from Bangkok not to tax US digital services companies as part of their trade deal. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is under pressure to deliver on his campaign promises while navigating the country's economic challenges.
As Thailand prepares for new elections, which are expected to take place in the coming weeks, concerns about food security and industry stability have reached a boiling point. Weerayut Karnchuchat, deputy leader of the opposition People's Party, has called on the government to pause trade talks with the US until local stakeholders can be consulted.
For many mid-sized businesses, including durian farmers like Tipok Lertwattanaweerakul, the return of Trump and his trade war has made for a disastrous year. With demand depressed across countless supply chains exposed to the US, profit margins have been slashed, and business is dwindling.
the thailand pork industry is literally on its last leg as those cheap us imports are gonna flood in and put all our local farmers out of business 
it's not just them tho, feed crop farmers and animal feed traders are also getting hit hard 
corn prices are skyrocketing and thai is like "oh nope we dont wanna tax this" 
while we're stuck with these massive trade deals that dont even benefit us 
can we just talk about how some ppl get a sweet deal on thailand's rare earths but our farmers are struggling 
my fave brand, Durian King, is like totally going to be affected 
Tipok Lertwattanaweerakul's durian business is gonna struggle so much 
i just wanna protect the Thai pork farmers 
they're the ones who have been supporting us with delicious meat all these years 
how are they supposed to compete with cheaper US imports? 
, I'm not surprised at all by this. The Thai pork industry was already struggling due to its own inefficiencies, but now it's just getting hammered by cheap US imports. This trade deal is a total win-win for Trump and the US, but what about Thailand? It's like they're just throwing away their agricultural industry on the altar of economic gain 
The whole thing reeks of corruption and crony capitalism 
We need to make sure we're not compromising food security for a quick fix in trade deals 
. It's time for us to sit down with our government and have an open discussion about what we want to achieve, not just what Trump is offering 
about this Thai pork industry situation! It's like, what even is happening?! One minute our domestic pig farmers are raking it in, and the next they're facing extinction because of cheaper US imports that are basically being sold at a loss? The fact that those US hog farms are using ractopamine to fatten up their pigs is just, I don't know... 
it's like we're putting our food security on the line for the sake of some big corporations making a quick buck. And don't even get me started on the impact on feed crop farmers and animal feed traders - corn prices are skyrocketing and they're basically being priced out of business! 
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we gotta think about food security here and what happens if domestic pig farmers can't compete with subsidized us pork? corn prices are skyrocketing too which is just gonna hurt everyone in the supply chain 
prime minister anutin charnvirakul needs to do something about this ASAP before it's too late for mid-sized businesses like durian farmers who are already reeling from trump's trade war 