From Yahoo Finance: 2025-04-22 21:06:00

Thai farmer Daeng Donsingha faces financial strain as rice prices plummet due to Indian exports and potential U.S. tariffs. Thailand, hit hard by proposed measures, exported 849,000 metric tons of rice to the U.S. in 2024, worth $735 million. Vietnam’s lower prices could further threaten Thailand’s exports.

Thailand’s rice industry is at risk as Trump’s tariffs loom, potentially raising prices and decreasing demand for Thai rice in the U.S. market. The nation exported 9.94 million tons of rice in 2024, worth $6.82 billion, with the U.S. as a key market. Farmers fear they may not survive if prices drop.

Negotiations between Thailand and the U.S. are underway to counter the impact of potential tariffs. Rice exports are already declining, with a 30% drop in the first quarter. Concessions proposed by Thailand, like reducing U.S. corn tariffs to zero, could hurt local farmers and industries.

Thai farmers, like Daeng, worry about their livelihoods as decisions made abroad could threaten their futures. The government promises to protect domestic industries in negotiations with the U.S. But for farmers already struggling with low prices, the outcome remains uncertain and potentially devastating.

Read more: Trump tariffs threaten to pile more pain on Thailand’s rice sector