WASHINGTON — January 17, 2013 — The United States and Thailand yesterday concluded a two-day
meeting under their Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), agreeing to expand cooperation
on bilateral, regional, and multilateral issues in order to increase trade and investment and
support the creation and retention of jobs in both countries. The U.S. and Thai teams, which were
led by Barbara Weisel, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and
Director-General of the Department of Trade Negotiations at the Thai Ministry of Commerce Piramol
Chareonpao, also discussed advancing the U.S.-ASEAN Enhanced Economic Engagement Initiative
announced by President Obama and the ASEAN Leaders last November, as well as ways to coordinate our
approaches in APEC and the WTO.
The delegations focused on ways to expand goods, services, and agricultural trade, improve
the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, and resolve other issues affecting
the commercial environment. The United States raised concerns related to Thai import
restrictions on pork products, proposed measures that would require domestic processing of credit
card transactions, and regulations that would restrict foreign participation in the Thai
telecommunications sector.
During the meetings, Thailand and the United States also exchanged information on regional
developments. The United States provided an update on the status of the Trans-Pacific Partnership
negotiations, and outlined the goals and objectives we are seeking in this agreement.
Background
Thailand is a key ASEAN trading partner and longstanding ally. Currently, the United States
is Thailand’s fourth largest trading partner and Thailand is the 27th-largest trading partner of
the United States, with $40 billion in bilateral goods and services trade in 2011. Major U.S.
exports to Thailand include electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, plastics, and
cotton. The United States has invested more than $11 billion in Thailand led by investment in
the manufacturing and services sectors.
Posted on January 22, 2013
Source: USTR
