Thailand opens market for US agricultural products under new trade framework

The United States announced that Thailand has agreed to remove trade barriers on imports of American agricultural, food, energy, and industrial goods, while also committing to large-scale annual purchases of key U.S. products. Under the new Framework for an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, both countries will gain unprecedented access to each other’s markets.

According to the White House statement, Bangkok has agreed to eliminate tariffs on 99% of U.S. imports, including grains, soybean meal, feed corn, meat, and grain-based products. The U.S., in turn, will maintain a 19% reciprocal tariff on Thai-origin goods while granting zero-tariff status to selected products.

A central element of the deal includes annual agricultural purchases worth about $2.6 billion, covering feed corn, soybean meal, and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) used in livestock production. In addition, Thailand will import energy products valued at $5.4 billion and procure 80 U.S.-made aircraft totaling $8.8 billion.

As part of the agreement, Thailand has also committed to facilitating market access for FSIS-certified U.S. meat and poultry, recognizing U.S. FDA certifications for medical devices and pharmaceuticals, and issuing import permits for U.S. ethanol. These measures are expected to create new export opportunities for U.S. grain, protein feed, and biofuel producers.

The Reciprocal Trade Agreement is currently undergoing technical negotiations and will be signed after both governments complete domestic formalities. Once in force, it will strengthen U.S.–Thailand agricultural cooperation and expand market access for American farmers across Southeast Asia.

Tags: Thailand, soybean meal, USA