Supachee Reaffirms Thailand-US Relations, Pushes Forward on New Trade and Investment Deal
Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister reaffirmed commitment to strengthening trade ties with the US, pushing forward negotiations on a reciprocal trade agreement during talks with the American ambassador in Bangkok on Friday.
Deputy Prime Minister Supachee Panitchpakdi held talks with US Ambassador to Thailand Sean Oanis on Friday, April 24, 2026, describing the discussions as constructive and reflective of shared confidence in deepening economic and trade relations between Thailand and the United States—a partnership spanning over 190 years.
The Thai government prioritizes negotiations on the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) and stands ready to work closely with the United States, with commitment to advance discussions and reach conclusions quickly to boost business and market confidence in both countries. Regarding the US Section 301 investigation, Supachee emphasized that Thailand has comprehensively clarified its position on excess capacity and forced labor import bans, noting that most Thai exports support US manufacturing supply chains. Thailand maintains labor standards aligned with international norms and is prepared to collaborate closely with the US for mutually beneficial outcomes.
Thailand has proposed that the US consider tariff exemptions for goods the US cannot produce domestically, particularly key agricultural exports, to mitigate consumer impact in America and promote more balanced trade.
The Deputy PM also revealed plans to visit the United States in early May to attend the SelectUSA Investment Summit 2026, leading a delegation of Thai business leaders focused on expanding investment in key sectors. Thailand will also engage with USABC and USCC, major US investors in Thailand, to facilitate mutual investment and witness business cooperation agreements (MOUs), demonstrating Thai private sector confidence in the US economy and the strategic partnership between the two nations.
Thailand aims to balance trade through imports of essential goods and raw materials from the US, including agricultural products and energy resources, reflecting its commitment to being a responsible and reliable economic partner. The Deputy PM concluded that Thailand views the US as a strategically important trade partner, and these discussions reflect shared determination to elevate economic relations to new heights through close collaboration for long-term sustainable mutual benefit.
In 2025, the US ranked as Thailand's second-largest trading partner with total trade value exceeding $93.65 billion, with Thai exports to the US reaching $72.51 billion, covering major products such as computers, rubber products, gems, automobiles, and air conditioning units. Thailand imported $21.14 billion worth of US goods including crude oil, machinery, aircraft and components, chemicals, and electrical machinery.
