Thailand approves duties of up to 30% on e-commerce imports
Customs officials expect the changes to raise government revenue by ฿6.3 billion and extend duties to some previously exempt products.
Thailand’s cabinet has agreed to impose import tariffs reaching 30% on goods bought through e-commerce platforms, Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said. The changes cover shipments arriving by international post and express delivery.
Customs Department director-general Phantong Loykulnanta said duties would be determined by each product’s customs classification. The revised system would replace tariff reductions or exemptions for online purchases shipped as parcels, restoring the standard rates for the relevant categories.
- Plastic products and women’s handbags: duties would rise from 20% to 30%.
- Headphones, microphones and fitness equipment: rates would increase from 10% to 30%.
- Jewellery: duties would move from zero to 30%.
- Sunglasses: tariffs would rise from 5% to 30%.
- Clothing: the duty would stay at 30%.
Ekniti said expanding e-commerce had increased Thai consumers’ access to foreign products and sharpened price competition, making conditions harder for domestic businesses. He said the government wanted sellers to compete on equal terms.
Phantong said the measure was intended to support Thai small- and medium-sized businesses and was expected to generate ฿6.3 billion in additional government revenue. He also said it complied with the ASEAN-China free-trade agreement. Customs works with major online platforms and delivery operators to collect taxes automatically at checkout or when shipments arrive.
