Bangkok: "Supajee" calls for acceleration of Thai-U.S. trade deal, discussing key points with USTR to maintain Thailand's leading export market.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Lalida Perisvivatana, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the Thai government is hastening negotiations on the Thailand-U.S. Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) to preserve the competitiveness of Thai products in the U.S. market. The U.S. remains Thailand's top export market, valued at over 2.37 trillion baht, and is vital for more than 400,000 domestic jobs. Recently, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Ms. Supajee Suthamphan, assigned by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, engaged in discussions with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to resolve key aspects of the agreement, with only technical issues pending finalization.
Ms. Supajee's discussions with Mr. Jamieson Greer, U.S. Trade Representative, and Mr. Rick Switzer, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, took place on September 1, 2026, in Washington, D.C. The talks achieved substantial progress before the U.S. announcement of the Section 301 investigation into structural overcapacity. The U.S. side assured Thailand of fair and competitive tariffs as a result of the investigation.
The deputy spokesperson emphasized the government's priority of accelerating ART negotiations to prevent Thai products from being disadvantaged by competitors due to tariff measures. Such measures could impact orders, production bases, employment, and incomes, especially in the industrial and agricultural sectors, and businesses within the export supply chain to the United States.
Previously, a reciprocal tariff under the IEEPA was imposed on Thailand at a rate of 36%, later reduced to 19% following a joint statement with the United States. This led to the ART Framework Agreement announcement on October 26, 2025. In February 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on IEEPA tariffs was followed by the United States invoking Section 122 to impose a 10% tariff on all countries.
Moreover, the U.S. initiated two additional investigations under Section 301 concerning Thailand: one on structural overcapacity and another on the absence of measures against goods produced using forced labor. This prompted the Thai government to expedite ART negotiations to mitigate trade risks and pursue competitive tariff terms.
For countries lacking bans on imports of goods produced using forced labor, the U.S. imposed a 12.5% tariff on such goods and a 10% tariff on goods from countries with such laws or those having concluded an ART with the U.S. The issue of structural overcapacity remains under review, with the U.S. aiming to fast-track tariff reviews alongside ART negotiation progress.
Ms. Lalida affirmed the government's continuous efforts. Before the Washington discussions, Ms. Supajee had a phone call with Mr. Greer on August 27, 2026, to reaffirm Thailand's commitment to a swift conclusion. Meanwhile, the Thai team engaged in intensive negotiations with the U.S. side over four days to resolve technical differences, resulting in this significant agreement.
Ms. Lalida stated, "The government is accelerating efforts to maintain Thailand's number one export market and prevent Thai businesses from losing competitiveness due to tariff measures. This progress is crucial not only for bilateral trade but also for preserving orders, production bases, jobs, and income for over 400,000 Thais, ensuring fair and competitive tariff rates compared to other countries in the region."
The Deputy Spokesperson added that the ART agreement addresses non-tariff trade barriers, digital trade, and commercial opportunities. Both sides will expedite the finalization of remaining details to safeguard the long-term interests of both countries.
By 2025, the United States will be Thailand's second-largest trading partner, with trade exceeding 3 trillion baht. Thailand will export 2.37 trillion baht to the U.S. and import about 700 billion baht, resulting in a trade surplus of approximately 1.68 trillion baht. Thus, resolving the ART is crucial for maintaining key export markets, building business and investor confidence, and protecting jobs and income for Thai citizens.