Bangkok: "Supajee" is ready to escalate the issue of Malaysia's suspension of Thai shrimp imports to the WTO and ASEAN levels.
According to Thai News Agency, Supajee confirmed that the issue of Malaysia's suspension of imports of five Thai shrimp varieties will be escalated to discussions at the WTO and ASEAN forums. She emphasized that the government will "fight through all channels" to mitigate the impact on farmers and businesses, accelerating the implementation of 13 emergency relief measures. The goal is to absorb at least 400 tons of shrimp production per month while awaiting long-term solutions through negotiations.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Suphajee Suthumpun, clarified the situation regarding Malaysia's suspension of imports of five Thai shrimp species in a Facebook post on her page, "Suphajee Suthumpun - Suphajee Suthumpun." She stated that the measure is effective from June 1, 2026, and follows the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives' phased inspection of imported white snapper from Malaysia, after detecting chemical and antibiotic residues that could affect the health of Thai consumers.
Ms. Supajee stated that all measures taken by Thailand have been complete, correct in accordance with procedures, and have been carried out in cooperation with the Malaysian side throughout the process to ensure the quality of sea bass is safe for consumers. However, Malaysia's suspension of shrimp imports was sudden, without prior notice, and without giving Thailand an opportunity to explain or propose countermeasures. Malaysia notified Thailand on May 28, 2026, and the suspension came into effect on June 1, 2026.
Ms. Supajee stated that the Thai government, through the Department of Fisheries and the National Agricultural and Food Standards Office (NAFS), has scheduled an urgent meeting to resolve the issue. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce is prepared to elevate this matter to discussions at relevant forums, including the World Trade Organization (WTO) and ASEAN, and has assigned the Thai Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur to closely monitor progress.
To assist affected farmers and businesses, the Ministry of Commerce has instructed its affiliated agencies, both domestically and internationally, to urgently find markets for Thai shrimp production. Data from 2026 shows that Thai shrimp exports to Malaysia averaged 300-400 tons per month, valued at approximately 44 million baht per month.
The Ministry of Commerce has therefore implemented 13 urgent measures, including finding alternative export markets, organizing business matching events, opening shrimp purchasing points in production areas, connecting exporters and processing plants to purchase produce directly, and campaigning to promote domestic shrimp consumption. The goal is to absorb at least 400 tons of produce per month to mitigate the short-term impact.
Ms. Supajee stated that the Ministry of Commerce's actions are not solely focused on supporting domestic shrimp consumption, but will involve various measures through all available channels. These include finding alternative markets, expanding trade opportunities, and elevating the issue to the WTO and ASEAN forums to alleviate farmers' hardship while long-term solutions are being coordinated and implemented.
'We will fight in every way and through every channel to minimize the impact on our fellow farmers,' Ms. Supajee stated.