Thailand's billion-dollar rice industry would be exposed to major risks if its trade negotiations with the U.S. fail, as the Trump government is threatening a 36 percent tariff on the country.
While the U.S. is not Thailand's largest rice consumer, it remains a critical market for high-value varieties, especially the premium jasmine rice. The Thai government claimed to be advancing a new proposal to achieve a trade balance with the U.S. and avoid Trump's additional tariff, but the huge uncertainty has burdened local farmers.
Rice growers in the country are facing a harsh reality, with dwindling margins and the looming threat of unsustainable debt with just one failed harvest.
"Most farmers borrow money. When we harvest the rice, but the price is not good, we still have costs, for the family and for production. Our income is irregular, so it makes life difficult. Farmers cannot escape this problem. They face this same hardship," said Thawee Sunimit, a local rice farmer.
Half of Thailand's cultivated land is devoted to rice farming, and one in five households grows rice. The pillar industry has already eroded with rising costs, extreme weather, and shrinking exports, and the tariff threat further undermines the exports and narrows the profit. As countries have been delaying their buying decisions due to the tariff, the overall rice exports of Thailand fell by 30 percent in the first quarter.
"Farmers are the driving force of the country's economy. We are concerned because we export a lot of rice to the U.S., more than 800,000 tonnes per year. If this tax is set, 36 percent will immediately increase the price of our products. We are not sure if consumers will have purchasing power, or if they will switch to cheaper products," said Kriengsak Tapananon, the Honorary Adviser of the Thai Rice Farmer Association.
Despite the export decrease, Thailand remains the world's second-largest rice exporter, supplying more than 9 million tonnes annually to global markets. As Trump's tariff is shaking Thailand's rice industry, the global rice supply is also under threat.
US tariff uncertainty threatens rice industry in Thailand
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
