Thailand hopes to sign US trade deal during Trump's Asia visit
Thai officials say negotiations are in their final stage after Donald Trump wrote to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressing expectations of an agreement soon.
Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has directed the Commerce Ministry to speed up preparations for signing a trade agreement with the United States, hoping to arrange it during US President Donald Trump's forthcoming Asia visit, government spokesman Ekkapob Pianpises said.
According to Ekkapob, Anutin told a Cabinet meeting that Trump had sent him a letter indicating he expected the agreement to be signed soon. The spokesman said negotiations had reached their final stage, with Anutin tasking Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun with continuing the talks.
Negotiations began after the Trump administration adopted its reciprocal tariff policy in April 2025. The US initially imposed a 36 per cent tariff on Thailand, later lowering it to 19 per cent after negotiations.
An October 2025 framework envisaged Thailand removing tariffs on about 99 per cent of US goods. The US would retain its 19 per cent reciprocal tariff on Thai goods, though some products would qualify for zero tariffs. Both sides have continued negotiations this year to settle the remaining details.
