Thailand

The United States and Thailand launched Free Trade Agreement negotiations in 2004 but suspended them in 2006 following the dissolution of the Thai Parliament and the subsequent military-led coup. U.S. and Thai officials continue to discuss bilateral issues such as intellectual property rights and customs issues as well as ways to advance the WTO Doha negotiations and the APEC and ASEAN agendas.

U.S.-Thailand Trade Facts

U.S. goods and services trade with Thailand totaled $29 billion in 2009 (latest data available for goods and services trade combined). Exports totaled $8.5 billion; Imports totaled $21 billion. The U.S. goods and services trade deficit with Thailand was $12 billion in 2009.

Thailand is currently our 24th largest goods trading partner with $31.7 billion in total (two ways) goods trade during 2010. Goods exports totaled $9.0 billion; Goods imports totaled $22.7 billion. The U.S. goods trade deficit with Thailand was $13.7 billion in 2010.

Trade in services with Thailand (exports and imports) totaled $3.1 billion in 2008 (latest data available for services trade). Services exports were $1.6 billion; Services imports were $1.5 billion. The U.S. services trade surplus with Thailand was $87 million in 2009.

Exports

Thailand was the United States’ 28th largest goods export market in 2010.

U.S. goods exports to Thailand in 2010 were $9.0 billion, up 29.8% ($2.1 billion) from 2009, and up 84.5% from 1994 (the year prior to Uruguay Round).

The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2010 were: Electrical Machinery ($2.1 billion), Machinery ($1.4 billion), Optic and Medical ($566 million), Plastic ($397 million), Precious Stones (gold) ($364 million).

U.S. exports of agricultural products to Thailand totaled $1.2 billion in 2010, the 16th largest U.S. Ag export market. Leading categories include: cotton ($256 million), soybeans ($192 million), wheat ($120 million), feeds and fodders ($106 million), and hides and skins ($73 million).

U.S. exports of private commercial services* (i.e., excluding military and government) to Thailand were $1.6 billion in 2009 (latest data available), 0.9% ($15 million) less than 2008 but 59% greater than 1994 level. Other private services (business, professional, and technical services, and education services) category led U.S. exports in 2009.

Imports

Thailand was the United States’ 19th largest supplier of goods imports in 2010.

U.S. goods imports from Thailand totaled $22.7 billion in 2010, an 18.9% increase ($3.6 billion) from 2009, and up 120.2% from 1994. U.S. imports from Thailand accounted for 1.2% of overall U.S. imports in 2009.

The five largest import categories in 2010 were: Electrical Machinery ($5.8 billion), Machinery ($4.5 billion), Rubber ($1.8 billion), Prepared Meat, Fish (shrimp and tuna) ($1.3 billion), and Precious Stones (jewelry) ($1.2 billion).

U.S. imports of agricultural products from Thailand totaled $2.0 billion in 2010, the 10th largest supplier of Ag imports. Leading categories include: rubber and allied products ($601 million), processed fruit and vegetables ($410 million), and rice ($405 million).

U.S. imports of private commercial services (i.e., excluding military and government) were $1.5 billion in 2009 (latest data available), down 7.7% ($127 million), but up 219% from 1994 level. Other private services (business, professional, and technical services) and travel categories accounted for most of U.S. services imports from Thailand.

Trade Balance

The U.S. goods trade deficit with Thailand was $13.7 billion in 2010, a 12.8% increase ($1.6 billion) over 2009.

The United States had a services trade surplus of $87 million in 2009 (latest data available).

Investment

U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Thailand (stock) was $7.5 billion in 2010, 7.1% increase from 2009.

U.S. FDI in Thailand is led by the manufacturing and banking sectors.

Thailand FDI in the United States (stock) was $160 million in 2010, a 21.2% decrease from 2009.

The distribution of Thailand’s FDI in the United States was not available in 2010.

Sales of services in Thailand by majority U.S.-owned affiliates were $4.6 billion in 2008 (latest data available), while sales of services in the United Sates by majority Thailand-owned firms were not available for 2008 ($239 million in 2005).