Thailand and the United States have agreed to accelerate their negotiations on the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade and discussed bilateral trade cooperation and close economic partnership.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Suphajee Suthumpun met United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer and Deputy USTR Rick Switzer on 4 May 2026 during her visit to the United States. She said that Thailand was encouraged to increase its investment in the U.S. in such sectors as processed agriculture and energy. 

Thailand also reaffirmed its commitment to importing more products from the United States and told the U.S. side about the plans by the Thai private sector to expand investment projects in the U.S. The Ministry of Commerce of Thailand will send a delegation to the USTR Office to clarify issues related to the Section 301 investigation on 13-14 May 2026 in order to create better understanding about Thailand’s trade and production structures.

Mrs. Suphajee also met and exchanged views with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth on trade and investment between Thailand and the United States. The U.S. side proposed cooperation on clean energy, small modular reactor nuclear technology, food innovation, and healthcare. Both countries also agreed to promote cooperation between their educational institutions, especially in Illinois, which has great potential for energy, technology, and advanced agriculture.

The United States was Thailand's second-largest trading partner in 2025, with total bilateral trade of more than $93.65 billion. Thai exports came to $72.50 billion and imports $21.14 billion. Thailand gained a trade surplus of $51.36 from the United States.

Major Thai exports to the United States include computers, rubber products, automobiles, and refrigerators, while Thailand mainly imported from the United crude oil, machinery, aircraft and components, and chemicals.

Also, on 4 May, Mrs. Suphajee and Mr. Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Chairman of the Advisory Board to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, led the Team Thailand delegation, to attend the opening ceremony of the SelectUSA Investment Summit 2026, hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, Maryland.

The Chairman of the Advisory Board met with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to advancing a close economic partnership between the two countries for mutual benefit, including investment cooperation, which has seen a steady increase in Thailand’s investment in the U.S., currently totaling about $19 billion. The U.S. Secretary of Commerce welcomed the investment of the Thai private sector and expressed his personal regard for Thailand.