Thailand-EU Free Trade Talks Advance Toward Year-End Deal
Thailand’s deputy prime minister said the tenth round of Thailand-EU free‑trade talks in Phuket made strong progress, with most treaty chapters settled and negotiations aiming to finish by the end of 2026. The discussions covered sanitary measures, rules of origin, energy, and market‑access issues for goods, services, investment and government procurement. In 2025 the EU was Thailand’s fourth‑largest trade partner, with bilateral trade worth $45 billion and a Thai surplus of $7.9 billion.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Supajee Sutthamphanthu said the tenth round of Thailand-EU free‑trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, held in Phuket from September 28 to October 6, 2026, yielded significant progress. Most of the treaty’s textual chapters — including sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, preliminary provisions, energy and raw materials, and rules of origin — have been concluded. Work remains on market‑access issues for goods, services, investment and government procurement, as well as on policy‑related matters, with both sides intending to finish talks by the end of 2026 to achieve a balanced, mutually acceptable outcome.
The negotiations have intensified through close guidance from both governments and the exchange of proposals, helping both parties understand each other's priorities in products, services and investment. The aim is to create market openings that deliver concrete economic, trade and investment benefits while sensitively addressing each side’s concerns.
Supajee added that the Thailand‑EU FTA covers many economic and trade dimensions, involving multiple ministries and agencies. Thailand’s position is shaped through inter‑agency cooperation, seeking not only a successful deal but one that benefits the country overall, boosts competitiveness and creates trade and investment opportunities, while carefully assessing impacts on sensitive sectors.
Looking ahead, the two sides will continue discussions on outstanding points to conclude market‑access and policy issues, with a target to wrap up the negotiations in 2026.
In 2025 the EU was Thailand’s fourth‑largest trading partner after China, the United States and Japan, with bilateral trade worth US$45.03 billion, up 3.44 % from the same period in 2024. Thai exports to the EU rose 9.27 % year‑on‑year to US$26.45 billion, led by computers and parts, gems and jewellery, air‑conditioning units and components, rubber products, and transformers. Imports from the EU fell 3.86 % to US$18.58 billion, mainly machinery and parts, pharmaceutical and medical products, chemicals, electrical equipment, and medical‑science instruments. Thailand enjoyed a trade surplus of US$7.86 billion with the EU.
