On June 30, 2025, a Thai government delegation departed for Washington, D.C., to pursue critical trade talks aimed at easing U.S. tariffs on Thai exports and deepening economic ties with the United States. The high-level visit, initiated under the directive of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, reflects Thailand’s strategic push to support national economic growth and reduce trade burdens on local industries.
BANGKOK — A Thai government delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, departed for Washington, D.C. on June 30 to participate in a series of trade negotiations with senior U.S. officials and private sector stakeholders. The mission, directed by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, underscores Thailand’s intent to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation and secure more favorable trade conditions for Thai exporters.
Central to the agenda is a scheduled meeting on July 3 with Jamieson Greer of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The talks are expected to address longstanding concerns over retaliatory U.S. tariffs, which currently impose a 36% duty on certain Thai products. Thai officials have already submitted multiple proposals to reduce these levies, and early responses from U.S. counterparts have reportedly been positive.
In addition to the USTR discussions, the Thai delegation is set to hold meetings with various U.S. government agencies and industry leaders. Topics on the table include enhanced market access for Thai agricultural and food products, collaboration in advanced technologies, and expanded trade in energy and raw materials — areas seen as key to addressing both countries’ economic needs.
The Thai government’s negotiation framework emphasizes mutual benefit. It includes tariff reduction requests, removal of non-tariff barriers, and proposals to increase imports of U.S. energy supplies and raw materials to offset domestic shortages. Thai authorities have also reiterated their commitment to fair trade practices, including strict monitoring against transshipment and mislabeling — efforts intended to reassure American partners of Thailand’s compliance with international trade norms.
The government is also using the opportunity to promote Thai outbound investment. Several Thai firms have expressed interest in expanding into the U.S. market, potentially contributing to a more balanced and sustainable trade relationship.
The visit comes at a pivotal time as both nations seek to diversify supply chains and strengthen regional economic resilience. Observers from both public and private sectors in Thailand expect the outcome of these negotiations to shape the future of Thai–U.S. trade cooperation over the next several years.
Among those supporting the delegation’s mission are senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce, as well as trade representatives tasked with fostering long-term economic growth and global market access for Thai industries.