• Countries & Regions
  • Southeast Asia & Pacific
  • Laos

    • Laos

    The United States and Laos meet regularly under our 2016 Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), which provides a platform for addressing bilateral issues, monitoring Laos’ implementation of its WTO accession commitments, and coordinating on regional and multilateral issues.

    In 2019, Laos GDP was an estimated $19.1 billion (current market exchange rates); real GDP was up by an estimated 4.7%; and the population was 7 million. (Source: IMF)

    Laos is currently our 154th largest goods trading partner with $165 million in total (two way) goods trade during 2019. Goods exports totaled $17 million; goods imports totaled $148 million. The U.S. goods trade deficit with Laos was $131 million in 2019.

    Exports

    •    Laos was the United States' 194th largest goods export market in 2019.

    •    U.S. goods exports to Laos in 2019 were $17 million, up 6.3% ($1 million) from 2018 but down 16.0% from 2009.

    • The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2019 were: precious metal and stone (diamonds) ($2 million), plastics ($2 million), optical and medical instruments ($2 million), vehicles ($2 million), and miscellaneous chemical products ($2 million).
       
    • U.S. total exports of agricultural products to Laos totaled $3 million in 2019. The leading domestic export category is: tobacco ($1 million).
       

    Imports

    •    Laos was the United States' 112th largest supplier of goods imports in 2019.

    • U.S. goods imports from Laos totaled $148 million in 2019, up 4.1% ($6 million) from 2018, and up 240.2% from 2009.
       
    • The top import categories (2-digit HS) in 2019 were: electrical machinery ($75 million), salt, sulfur, earths, and stone (barium sulfates) ($13 million), precious metal and stone (diamonds) ($8 million), inorganic chemicals ($8 million), and knit apparel ($6 million).
       
    • U.S. total imports of agricultural products from Laos totaled $6 million in 2019. Leading categories include: unroasted coffee ($3 million), rubber & allied products ($3 million), wine and beer ($199 thousand), roasted & instant coffee ($109 thousand), and essential oils ($39 thousand).
       

    Trade Balance

    • The U.S. goods trade deficit with Laos was $131 million in 2019, a 3.8% increase ($5 million) over 2018.

    Investment

    • Data on U.S. FDI in Laos are unavailable.
       
    • No data on Laos's FDI in the U.S. are available.

    NOTE: No services trade data with Laos are available.