Key facts
- Thailand's cabinet authorized duties of up to 30% on goods ordered through foreign e-commerce platforms, per Thai media cited by the primary report.
- Customs chief Phantong Loykulnanta said exemptions under Section 12 of the Customs Tariff Decree of 1987 would be removed.
- Containerized imports and shipments under free trade agreements will continue to follow existing customs procedures, Nation Thailand reported.
- The Customs Department estimates the revised system will raise about THB6.3 billion in additional import duties each year.
- Pawat Pongwittayaphanu, a Prachachon Party MP, supported the plan but said higher foreign prices do not guarantee better Thai sales.
Thailand's cabinet on Monday authorized the finance ministry to impose duties of up to 30% on goods ordered through foreign e-commerce platforms and delivered by express courier or international post, according to Thai media. The actual rate will vary by product. The primary report, published November 13, 2026, said the move may squeeze Chinese vendors but that intense price competition and their ability to keep costs low are likely to limit its impact, according to analysts it did not name.
Nation Thailand reported that the cabinet approved revised customs rules covering express deliveries and international postal shipments, with implementation expected in early 2027. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said technological advances had allowed foreign businesses to sell directly to Thai consumers without relying on domestic supply chains, and that these sellers often avoid costs local operators bear, such as physical shops, employment and corporate income tax in Thailand.
Customs Department Director-General Phantong Loykulnanta said the government would remove general import-duty reductions and exemptions under Section 12 of the Customs Tariff Decree of 1987, and that imported goods would be taxed at the statutory tariff ceiling for each product category, subject to an overall maximum of 30%. Goods with a statutory ceiling below 30% will be charged at that rate; products whose ceilings exceed 30% will face a maximum of 30%.
The measures cover express imports declared under consolidated shipping documents, goods released from e-commerce free zones for domestic use or sale, and international postal imports subject to customs declarations. Containerized imports and shipments benefiting from preferential tariffs under free trade agreements will continue to follow existing customs procedures.
Among the 20 most frequently ordered imported products, Nation Thailand reported that the rate on plastic products will rise from 10% to 30%, imitation jewelry from zero to 30%, women's handbags from 20% to 30%, fitness equipment from 10% to 30%, mobile phone screen protectors from 5% to 30%, communications equipment and components from zero to 30%, headphones, speakers and microphones from 10% to 30%, and sunglasses from 5% to 30%. The revised rates build on measures introduced in January 2026 requiring imported goods valued from THB1 to pay import duty and value-added tax.
The Customs Department estimates the revised system will generate approximately THB6.3 billion in additional import duties each year. In the previous fiscal year, duties collected from online parcels totaled THB4.8 billion, alongside THB3.5 billion in VAT revenue.
Thairath reported that Pawat Pongwittayaphanu, a party-list MP from the Prachachon Party, supported the plan but warned that higher prices for foreign products do not necessarily mean Thai stores will sell better. He proposed three complementary measures: linking Customs Department and Revenue Department databases directly with e-commerce platforms to monitor and prevent under-invoicing and to display tax-inclusive prices; regulating online platforms' fees and commission rates and enforcing product standards; and accelerating digital platform economy legislation.