Brunei Darussalam

The United States and Brunei meet regularly under a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement to address a range of bilateral issues and to coordinate on WTO, ASEAN, and APEC initiatives. Intellectual property rights (IPR) continues to be a major focus of current U.S. engagement with Brunei.

In June 2008, the United States cosponsored an IPR workshop in Bandar Seri Begawan to discuss best practices in effective enforcement and to foster improved dialogue between rights holders and Brunei enforcement officials. In the past few months, the government of Brunei has launched raids on some of the infringing retail shops selling pirated music and movies. The United States continues to urge Brunei to intensify its enforcement and prosecution efforts. Additional follow-up activities are currently being planned, and we encourage U.S. rights holders to contact us if they would like to learn more about these initiatives and participate in them.

On November 14, 2009, President Obama announced that the United States would engage in the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP), a regional free trade agreement with eight countries - Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

For further information about TPP click here.

U.S.-Brunei Darussalam Trade Facts

Brunei is currently our 152nd largest goods trading partner with $142 million in total (two ways) goods trade during 2009. Goods exports totaled $100 million; Goods imports totaled $42 million. The U.S. goods trade surplus with Brunei was $59 million in 2009.

Exports

Brunei was the United States' 141st largest goods export market in 2009.

U.S. goods exports to Brunei in 2009 were $100 million, down 10.1% ($11 million) from 2008, and down 73% from 1994 (the year prior to Uruguay Round).

The top export categories (2-digit HS) for 2009 were: Aircraft ($27 million), Machinery ($23 million), Electrical Machinery ($13 million), Optic and Medical Instruments ($11 million), and Special Other (low value shipments) ($8 million).

U.S. exports of agricultural products to Brunei totaled $4 million in 2009.

Imports

Brunei was the United States' 140th largest supplier of goods imports in 2009.

U.S. goods imports from Brunei a totaled $42 million in 2009, a 63.6% decrease ($73 million) from 2008, and down 8.8% from 1994.

The top 5 imports categories (2-digit HS) for 2009 were: Knit Apparel ($39 million), Special Other (returns) ($1 million), Woven Apparel ($942 thousand), Fish and Seafood (shrimp and prawn) ($212 thousand), and Plastic ($102 thousand).

There were no U.S. imports of agricultural products from Brunei in 2009.

Trade Balance

The U.S. goods trade balance with Brunei went from a $3 million deficit in 2008, to a surplus of $59 million in 2009.

Investment

U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Brunei (stock) was $26 million in 2008 (latest data available), down 7.1% from 2007.

Brunei FDI in the United States (stock) was $13 million in 2008 (latest data available).