Thailand is moving to deepen economic ties with the United States as the Kingdom seeks to shield itself from rising trade pressure and position Thai firms inside America’s industrial revival.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun concluded talks this week with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Rick Switzer, with both sides agreeing to accelerate negotiations on a proposed Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART).

The discussions, held on the sidelines of the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Maryland, underscored Washington’s growing focus on trade rebalancing, while providing an opportunity for Thailand to reinforce its role as a strategic manufacturing and supply-chain partner.

Team Thailand signaled that Thai businesses are prepared to expand investment in the United States, particularly in agro-processing and energy sectors. Thai officials also indicated they are willing to increase imports of selected American goods where domestic production capacity remains limited.

The U.S. side responded positively to the proposals — a welcome sign, as Southeast Asian economies navigate a more protectionist and transactional trade landscape.

Tariff pressure and supply chains

A key objective for Thailand has been easing the risk of further U.S. tariff measures.

During the talks, Suphajee pressed for tariff exemptions on Thai exports that cannot be produced domestically in the United States, arguing that such products should not be caught in broader trade-balancing efforts. U.S. officials reportedly expressed openness to further consideration of the proposal.

Both sides also discussed increasing the use of U.S.-sourced raw materials in Thai manufacturing supply chains, reflecting Washington’s wider push to anchor more production ecosystems around American industry.

Thailand plans to send another delegation to the United States from May 13th to 14th to participate in Section 301 hearings and clarify the structure of Thailand’s trade and manufacturing sectors. The move aims to reduce misunderstandings that could lead to future penalties or trade actions.

The U.S. was Thailand’s second-largest trading partner in 2025, with bilateral trade exceeding US$93.6 billion (THB3.4 trillion). Thailand recorded a trade surplus of more than US$51 billion (THB1.7 trillion) with the U.S., a figure likely to attract scrutiny as Washington prioritizes narrowing trade imbalances.

The bigger economic strategy

The trip also highlighted a broader effort by Bangkok to widen cooperation into future-oriented industries, with the U.S. state of Illinois emerging as a focal point for possible partnerships.

Suphajee separately met with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, the first Thai American woman elected to Congress, to discuss collaboration in clean energy, carbon-reduction technologies, small modular nuclear technology, food innovation, healthcare, and infant nutrition industries.

The broader Thai delegation, operating under a Team Thailand+ framework bringing together government and private-sector leaders, used the SelectUSA summit to pitch Thailand as both an investor in America and a destination for renewed U.S. investment.

With the meetings, Thailand sought to reaffirm its commitment to remaining solidly integrated in American-led supply chains, while also presenting itself as a reliable, long-term partner at a time when global trade relationships are becoming increasingly strategic.

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