China · Nation Thailand
Thailand steps up US trade talks as tariff pressure grows
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Thailand has urged the United States to accelerate negotiations on a reciprocal trade agreement as Bangkok seeks a competitive tariff outcome and greater clarity over two US Section 301 investigations.
Key facts
- Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun held bilateral talks with three senior US officials in Washington, DC, on July 15 and 16.
- The United States was Thailand’s second-largest trading partner in 2025, with two-way trade valued at US$93.65 billion, according to figures provided by the Commerce Ministry.
- Under the proposal, a 12.5% additional duty would apply to products from economies that had not introduced qualifying restrictions on imports produced with forced labour.
- A lower additional rate of 10% would be proposed for economies that had imposed such a prohibition, committed to doing so under an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, or adopted a partial system intended to prevent forced-labour goods from
- Thai exports to the US were valued at US$72.51 billion, while imports from the United States totalled US$21.14 billion.
- Thailand consequently recorded a trade surplus of US$51.36 billion with the United States.
Summary
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun held bilateral talks with three senior US officials in Washington, DC, on July 15 and 16.
They were White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer .