Thai PM Downplays Role of US Academic’s Royal Insult Case in Stalling Tariff Talks
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Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has downplayed speculation that a rare royal insult charge against an American academic derailed talks with Washington aimed at softening the blow from a threatened 36% levy on its exports.
The lese majeste charge earlier this month against Paul Chambers, a lecturer at Naresuan University in northern Phitsanulok province, was cited by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as one of the likely reasons for the Thai-US tariff talks — previously set for April 23 — being deferred indefinitely.