WASHINGTON--21 May--PRNewswire-AsiaNet/InfoQuest ThaiMyths.com ( http://www.thaimyths.com ), a project of USA for Innovation, unveiled Myth #8 today to draw attention to the deceit in Thailand's decision to steal American and European innovation. Each business day for two weeks from May 7 - May 18, ThaiMyths.com will release additional information regarding one of the ten recent myths by the Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla. Today's Myth: #8 of 10 Myth: U.S. Action Threatens Thailand's Sovereignty The Facts: Thailand is a sovereign nation and has the right to do anything it wants. This is clearly evidenced by the current government's isolationist policies, including the abrogation of American property rights. It has the right to steal property rights from foreign investors. It has the right to lower spending on public health while raising taxes on medicine, building profit into its government-owned drug company and raising spending on military salaries. But these sovereign choices have consequences. Thailand benefits from trade preferences, government aid and private donations from Americans. That generosity is borne from a historically allied relationship between our two countries. If that relationship continues to deteriorate, so too will America's generosity. FACT: Thailand enjoys one-way access into the U.S. consumer market -- While Thai businesses enjoy many duty-free benefits for their exports to the U.S., Thailand applies an average tariff of 10.9 percent on American exports to that country. Some tariffs are as high as 80 percent. (2007 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, http://www.ustr.gov , Accessed 5/16/07) -- According to foreign trade statistics compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau, the American trade deficit with Thailand is large and growing: U.S. Trade With Thailand: 2000-2006 Imports Year Exports To From Trade Thailand Thailand Balance 2006 8,152.50 22,471.50 -14,319.10 2005 7,256.60 19,889.80 -12,633.10 2004 6,368.40 17,578.90 -11,210.50 2003 5,835.30 15,178.50 -9,343.20 2002 4,860.20 14,792.90 -9,932.70 2001 5,989.40 14,727.00 -8,737.60 2000 6,617.30 16,385.40 -9,768.10 NOTE: All figures are in millions of U.S. dollars. (U.S. Census Bureau, "Foreign Trade Statistics," http://www.census.gov , Accessed 5/15/07) FACT: Despite cutting military funds to the junta, the U.S. Government continues to give away millions to Thailand in economic and humanitarian aid. -- The United States already cut $24 million in military funding to Thailand after the coup in September 2006: The United States has suspended nearly $24 million worth of assistance to the Thai government for programs such as military financing, military training and peacekeeping operations as a response to Thailand's September 19 military coup. Announcing the aid suspension, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said September 28 that the Bush administration continues to urge "a rapid return to democratic rule and early elections," and hopes to reinstate the suspended aid programs "after a democratically elected government takes office." Under Section 508 of the U.S. Foreign Operations Appropriations Act, when a country undergoes a military coup, the United States is restricted from providing aid such as foreign military financing, International Military Education and Training grants, peacekeeping operations, and military aid that falls under Section 1206 of the of the 2006 Defense Authorization law. (U.S. Department of State Press Release, http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile - english&y=2006&m=September&x=20060928181849esnamfuak0.9575464, 09/28/06, Accessed 05/16/07) -- Thailand is one of five U.S. treaty allies in Asia and was designated a Major Non-NATO Ally in 2003. (U.S. Department of State Fact Sheet, http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/apec2003/factsheetmnna.htm , Accessed 5/16/07) -- In 2006, Thailand received more than $14.3 million in foreign (non- military) aid from the United States (CRS Report for Congress, "U.S. Foreign Aid to East and South Asia: Selected Recipients, 01/03/07) SOURCE USA for Innovation CONTACT: USA For Innovation, +1-866-646-8668, [email protected] / Web site: http://www.ustr.gov http://www.thaimyths.com --Distributed by AsiaNet ( www.asianetnews.net )--