Source: Reuters/Jiraporn Kuhakan

Trump hits Thai seafood industry over worker rights, 26 Oct 2019

Donald Trump will suspend trade preferences for Thailand's seafood industry after it failed to take steps to improve worker rights...

All Thai seafood products will lose their eligibility for the trade preferences due to "longstanding worker rights issues in the seafood and shipping industries"…

"I have determined that Thailand is not taking steps to afford workers in Thailand internationally recognized worker rights ... it is appropriate to suspend the duty-free treatment," Trump said in the letter...

Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division applauded the move… calling Thailand's enforcement of worker protections "pathetic".

"For years, Thailand has failed to protect both Thai and migrant workers from neighboring countries from unscrupulous employers who fire anyone that stands up to demand their rights," Robertson said. "Reform is long overdue."

Thailand's government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat…declined to comment on the suspension.