Thailand Says US Tariff Talks Concluded on Main Principles

Thailand and the United States have reached agreement on the main principles of a tariff deal, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said on Wednesday (Nov 11), although many details are still to be settled and the pact must go before Parliament.

“In terms of the main principles, it is concluded,” Sihasak told reporters at Government House in Bangkok, according to Thai PBS World. He said both sides appeared satisfied with the outcome.

Rates and timetable not yet public

No tariff rates, product lists or timetable for the agreement have been disclosed, news site Thaiger reported. The trade talks are led by Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun, who may release an official document confirming the end of negotiations, Sihasak said.

Thai PBS World reported that an official joint announcement is expected during upcoming regional summits, including the ASEAN and APEC leaders’ meetings in the Philippines.

Suphajee first said the two countries had reached an agreement in principle on Sept 28. On Oct 8 she said Thailand hoped to sign in November if US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul met at the ASEAN summit, Thaiger reported. Trump wrote to Anutin last month expressing hope that the deal could be signed during his November visit to Asia.

On Nov 5, Anutin said he expected a US tariff rate of around 19 percent as the agreement moved into legal review, with existing arrangements applying until the main pact is formally signed, The Nation reported.

What Thai exporters pay now

Thai goods entering the US currently face a 12.5 percent tariff under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974, which took effect on July 24 and replaced a temporary 10 percent global tariff, according to Thaiger.

The Office of the US Trade Representative placed Thailand in the higher of its two bands because it had no ban on imports made with forced labour and had not made a qualifying commitment through an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, the report said.

Thailand’s Commerce Ministry said in July that about 2,120 Thai product lines, including integrated circuits, natural rubber and aircraft parts, were exempt from that tariff, covering more than half the value of shipments to the US. Rice and tuna were among goods still charged.

The talks build on an October 2025 framework under which Thailand committed to removing tariffs on about 99 percent of US goods. Thailand also faces a separate Section 301 investigation into excess manufacturing capacity.

What’s next for US Tariff

Attention now turns to an official visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang from Nov 13 to Nov 15, during which Thailand and China are preparing to sign seven cooperation documents covering areas including farm trade, food safety, the automotive industry and security, The Nation reported.

Sihasak said talks with Li would focus on lifting economic cooperation into high-tech sectors, particularly artificial intelligence and electric vehicles. He said Thailand wants Chinese investors to bring technology development and knowledge transfer rather than only assembly operations.

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