Thailand Imposes Tax on Cheap Chinese Goods Hurting Local Firms

(Bloomberg) — Thailand may impose value-added tax on Chinese goods shipped through free trade zones to shield local producers hit by a flood of cheap imports.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin ordered officials on Thursday to consider levying VAT on goods priced at less than 1,500 baht ($41) that are routed through tax-free zones to prevent false declarations. Cheap Chinese goods were also making their way into the Southeast Asian nation through e-commerce platforms and were being smuggled, Srettha said.