Group 1 - The Thai government is considering imposing taxes on physical gold transactions to curb the rapid appreciation of the Thai baht, which is impacting exports and tourism [1][2] - The proposed tax may exempt gold traded in US dollars, on futures exchanges, or purchased at gold shops, while aiming to reduce gold exports and increase the cost of gold holdings for Thai citizens [2] - The baht has appreciated by 7% this year, reaching its highest point since 2021, driven by strong gold export revenues, prompting calls for stronger intervention from the central bank to protect the economy [2][3] Group 2 - The Thai Customs Department reported that gold exports surged by 69% year-on-year in the first seven months of 2025, amounting to 254 billion THB (approximately 8 billion USD), with significant growth in exports to Cambodia [2] - The strong baht is negatively affecting Thailand's key economic sectors—exports and tourism—which together account for 70% of the country's GDP [3]