Thailand's Deputy PM and Commerce Minister Suphajee is accelerating negotiations with US trade representatives (Rick Switzer and Jamieson Greer) to finalize an agreement before the US announces Section 301 tariffs. Thailand aims to maintain the 19% tariff rate negotiated under the previous government, down from an initial 36% proposal. The urgency stems from the US's section 122 measure expiring on July 24; negotiations now focus on forced labor practices and excess production indices. Thailand currently faces a 12.5% tariff on forced labor compared to 10% for neighboring countries, making swift conclusion critical for competitive parity in the region.