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 $35 billion in 2010 (latest data available). Exports totaled $11 billion; Imports totaled $24 billion. The U.S. goods and services trade deficit with Thailand was $13.5 billion in 2010.

Thailand is currently our 27th largest goods trading partner with $35.8 billion in total (two ways) goods trade during 2011. Goods exports totaled $10.9 billion; Goods imports totaled $24.8 billion. The U.S. goods trade deficit with Thailand was $13.9 billion in 2011.

Trade in services with Thailand (exports and imports) totaled $3.7 billion in 2010 (latest data available). Services exports were $1.9 billion; Services imports were $1.7 billion. The U.S. services trade surplus with Thailand was $185 million in 2010.

Exports

Thailand was the United States' 27th largest goods export market in 2011.

U.S. goods exports to Thailand in 2011 were $10.9 billion, up 21.7% ($2.0 billion) from 2010, and up 65% from 2000.

The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2011 were: Electrical Machinery ($2.1 billion), Precious Stones (gold) ($1.5 billion), Machinery ($1.3 billion), Optic and Medical ($569 million), and Aircraft ($408 million).

U.S. exports of agricultural products to Thailand totaled $1.3 billion in 2011, the 16th largest U.S. Ag export market. Leading categories include: cotton ($403 million), soybeans ($176 million), wheat ($158 million), feeds and fodders ($104 million), and dairy products ($68 million).

U.S. exports of private commercial services* (i.e., excluding military and government) to Thailand were $1.9 billion in 2010 (latest data available), 15.4% ($257 million) more than 2009 and 90% greater than 1994 level. Other private services (business, professional, and technical services) category led U.S. exports in 2010.

Imports

Thailand was the United States' 19th largest supplier of goods imports in 2011.

U.S. goods imports from Thailand totaled $24.8 billion in 2011, a 9.4% increase ($2.1 billion) from 2010, and up 52% from 2000. U.S. imports from Thailand accounted for 1.1% of overall U.S. imports in 2011.

The five largest import categories in 2011 were: Electrical Machinery ($6.3 billion), Machinery ($4.3 billion), Rubber ($2.7 billion), Prepared Meat, Fish (shrimp and tuna) ($1.4 billion), and Precious Stones (jewelry) ($1.4 billion).

U.S. imports of agricultural products from Thailand totaled $2.6 billion in 2011, the 8th largest supplier of Ag imports. Leading categories include: rubber and allied products ($1.0 billion), processed fruit and vegetables ($468 million), and rice ($419 million).

U.S. imports of private commercial services (i.e., excluding military and government) were $1.7 billion in 2010 (latest data available), up 12.8% ($198 million), and up 265% 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 $13.9 billion in 2011, a 1.3% increase ($182 million) over 2010.

The United States had a services trade surplus of $185 million in 2010 (latest data available), up 47% from 2009.

Historical Trade Data

U.S. Goods Trade with Thailand (in billions of dollars)

 U.S. Services Trade with Thailand (in billions of dollars), 1994, 2000, 2004-2010

Investment

U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Thailand (stock) was $12.7 billion in 2010 (latest data available), a 29.9% 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 (latest data available), a 21.2% decrease from 2009.

The distribution of Thailand’s= FDI in the United States was not available in 2009.

Sales of services in Thailand by majority U.S.-owned affiliates were $4.8 billion in 2009 (latest data available), while sales of services in the United Sates by majority Thailand-owned firms were $137 million.

*NOTE: Refers to private services trade not including U.S. military sales, direct defense expenditures, and other miscellaneous U.S. government services