The United States began collecting an additional 12.5% tariff on Thai imports under Section 301 on July 24, hitting over 2,120 product categories while leaving more than half of export value exempt. Deputy Prime Minister Suphajee Suthumpun leads negotiations with Washington on further carve-outs before any escalation.

• Ministry of Commerce confirmed the tariff replaces an earlier 10% rate and applies alongside similar measures on 37 other economies.
• Over 2,120 categories remain competitive due to exemptions, shielding key electronics and auto parts lines.
• ART talks with the US continue ahead of possible additional duties on forced-labour or excess-capacity grounds.

On July 20 in Beijing, Thailand and China signed 15 strategic agreements covering high-speed rail completion by 2030, AI development and cross-border security. Chinese tech firms committed 70 billion baht to Thai projects as part of five bilateral pillars.

• Phase 1 of the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway now stands at 35.74% complete.
• AI and digital cooperation targets data centres and rail signalling systems.
• Security pillar includes intelligence sharing on transnational crime.

The Thai Meteorological Department placed 56 provinces under heavy-to-very-heavy rain and flash-flood alerts from July 27-30, with rough seas in the Andaman and Gulf. Mariners and low-lying communities received specific evacuation guidance.

• Northern, northeastern and southern regions face the highest accumulation.
• Bangkok expects afternoon storms and localised flooding risk.
• Agricultural zones in the central plain brace for runoff.

Authorities filed charges against two senior officials over alleged rigging of nationwide civil-service recruitment exams, part of a widening probe that has already scrapped multiple hiring rounds. The scandal centres on leaked question papers and manipulated scoring.

• Exam integrity failures have delayed recruitment across ministries.
• Cabinet ordered independent audit of all 2026 hiring cycles.
• Affected candidates number in the thousands.

Foreign arrivals reached 17.4 million between January and mid-July, outpacing earlier 2026 projections despite earlier monthly dips. Per-head spending remains steady, supporting revenue targets.

• China and India corridors show the strongest rebound.
• July weekly figures continue above seasonal averages.
• TAT monitoring Q3 momentum ahead of high-season planning.

Cabinet approved relaxed income and asset thresholds for the welfare-card programme, expanding coverage to an estimated additional 800,000 households from August. The change targets borderline working-poor families previously excluded.

• Digital application portal opens August 1.
• Verification will use existing revenue-department data.
• Budget impact estimated at ฿4.2 billion annually.

Bangkok is accelerating Agreement on Reciprocal Trade negotiations with Washington to secure exemptions ahead of any further Section 301 actions on forced labour or excess capacity. Legislation banning forced-labour imports is in final drafting.

• 12.5% tariff already in force on non-exempt lines since July 24.
• Potential stacked duties could reach 25% if both probes advance.
• Deputy PM leads the delegation with weekly video calls scheduled.

The Securities and Exchange Commission opened a review after a data breach at the Thailand Securities Depository exposed investor records. The incident involved unauthorised access to account details of several hundred thousand clients.

• Forensic audit underway with results due within 30 days.
• Brokerages ordered to notify affected clients by August 5.
• Cybersecurity standards for custodians under fresh scrutiny.

F✦FOREVER brings its debut world tour to IMPACT Arena, Muang Thong Thani on August 1-2. Expect high-production K-pop sets and fan interaction segments.

Taste The Local returns July 30–August 2 at Chan Royal Palace, Phitsanulok, with local dishes, desserts, live music and garden seating — a relaxed weekend escape from Bangkok.

The Street Ratchada hosts Volume Phase 7 through August 29 with weekly genre-focused nights featuring 60+ Thai artists across hip-hop, indie and rock on the fifth floor.

Official almsgiving, civil-servant oaths and candlelight blessings run nationwide on July 28; Bangkok events centre on Sanam Luang from 7 a.m.

Heavy rain and flash-flood risk remains elevated for northern and southern provinces through the first week of August; monitor TMD updates before travel.

The July 20 agreements mark the single largest quarterly inbound tech commitment from China since 2023, concentrated in rail signalling and AI-training infrastructure.