Commerce recommends that Thai traders must adapt to the modern world of trade.

Nonthaburi, Director-General of the Department of Business Development stated that even though the modern world of trade is increasingly borderless online, it makes it difficult for Thai traders to compete because imported products not exceeding 1,500 baht per piece are not subject to VAT. But after this tax was collected Thai entrepreneurs still need to adapt to produce different, high-quality products to compete with imported products. Mrs. Oramon Sapthaweetham Director-General of the Department of Business Development said that the overall picture of online trade in the past 2-3 years is considered to have grown significantly. But when calculating not only online product trading within the country only But it is quite a bit of ordering products from abroad through the online market, each year worth tens of billions of baht. This has caused Thai online sellers to call on the government to take care of them and there is talk of imported products not exceeding 1,500 baht per piece, not having to pay VAT or VAT. But while traders in the country who purchase goods must pay VAT, it is considered unequal. Therefore, I would like the government to consider this matter. However, the collection of VAT in Thailand in the past was exempt from the tax. Because it is something that Thailand wants to stimulate tourism and when foreign tourists come to travel in Thailand and buy goods back to the country, they can request a VAT refund. But it does not cover imported products traded through online markets. Therefore, it is considered that it makes Thai merchants unable to compete and it is unfair to pay VAT. Therefore, the Ministry of Finance will review and charge VAT on imported products not exceeding 1,500 baht per item for every income in the online product group. It is considered possible. It does not violate international agreements or free trade negotiation frameworks either. This is because VAT is a tax that is collected in the country and is not related to any framework agreement. It depends on whether that countr y is able to collect or not collect VAT. But if looking at the competition, it is considered equal. But the price of products imported into the online market will be more expensive which the buyer will have to bear. But what is related to the international framework agreement is the collection of border taxes under the customs tariff rates that will be agreed upon between them. Therefore, it is not related to the collection of VAT taxes. This is a tax for each country that may or may not collect taxes here. In addition, in the past, the Department of Business Development has collaborated with Thai online merchants to increase online trading channels to compete with foreign online markets that enter without borders and are in demand by Thai consumers. Therefore, Thai online merchants must quickly adapt to produce new and high quality products. make a difference To compete with imported products from foreign markets. Source: Thai News Agency