Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul has called for immediate talks with Malaysia following its temporary ban on imports of five Thai shrimp species.
Thai government spokesman Ratchada Thanadirek said Anutin, who issued the directive during a Cabinet meeting today, has warned that prolonged restrictions could hurt the livelihoods of shrimp farmers, exporters, and the wider seafood supply chain.
Ratchada said Anutin had instructed the deputy prime minister and commerce minister, together with the agriculture and cooperatives minister, to hold urgent discussions with Malaysian authorities to seek a solution that maintains bilateral trade and ensures Thai farmers’ livelihoods are protected.
“If the issue is allowed to persist, it could affect shrimp prices and the incomes of small-scale farmers,” she said in a statement today, reported Bernama.
The prime minister had said the ban’s impact would extend beyond shrimp farmers to the entire supply chain, including collectors, processing plants, exporters and thousands of workers.
Ratchada added that the relevant agencies had been directed to prepare measures to cushion the impact of the restriction, including stabilising farm-gate prices, managing potential domestic oversupply, and accelerating efforts to secure alternative export markets.
Thailand exports around 6,000 to 8,000 tonnes of shrimp to Malaysia each year, accounting for about 5% of total Thai shrimp exports.
The agriculture and food security ministry last month said it would temporarily restrict imports of five shrimp species from Thailand, effective June 1.
The ministry also said it would tighten import controls on sea bass from the country.
It said the measure was aimed at strengthening food safety controls, particularly to ensure shrimp and sea bass entering the local market complied with existing standards.