Thailand expects US tariff details ‘within 24 hours'
Responding to reports quoting US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as saying that a trade deal had been concluded, Mr Pichai said Thailand was still working 'a little bit more' on details with Washington.
'Don't make me say anything just yet. There's just a little bit more that I need to get back (to the US) about,' he said in response to a query from Reuters.
Mr Lutnick said earlier that the United States had reached trade agreements with Cambodia and Thailand, days after they agreed to a ceasefire at President Donald Trump's urging after deadly clashes along their disputed border.
'And you know what we did today? We made trade deals with Cambodia and Thailand,' Lutnick said on Wednesday night in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News. He did not elaborate before the interview ended.
The White House and the Commerce Department did not immediately respond to requests for further details.
Trump had used trade talks as a cudgel to bring both countries to the negotiating table, threatening that Washington would not reach agreements with either as long as the fighting continued.
After the ceasefire was confirmed, Trump called leaders in both countries and told his trade team to restart talks.
Both Thailand and Cambodia have been facing the prospect of a 36% US tariff on their goods. That would put them at a heavy disadvantage against regional neighbours facing rates of 20-25%.
Mr Pichai has expressed optimism that the final figure for Thailand will be around 20%.
'The Thai negotiating team is working diligently and thoroughly on every aspect, including trade data, international law, impacts on production, exports and economic security,' the minister said in a post on X on Thursday.
'We have proposed conditions acceptable to Thailand, with the goal of protecting the country's best interests. We have thoroughly analysed the US demands.
'Although the outcome is not yet clear, I assure you that the Thai team will never sit by idly or compromise easily.'
Saturday is the deadline Trump has set for America's trading partners to reach agreements. The US announced late Wednesday that it had reached an accord with South Korea that would impose a 15% tariff on imports.
Trump also said he would impose a 25% levy on Indian goods starting on Friday and threatened an additional penalty over the country's energy purchases from Russia.
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