Trading Partner Portal: Thailand
Overview
Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand Concerning Cooperation to Diversify Global Critical Minerals Supply Chains and Promote Investments
The White House, October 26, 2025
Joint Declaration by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand on the outcomes of their meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The White House, October 26, 2025
Joint Statement on a Framework for a United States-Thailand Agreement
on Reciprocal Trade
The White House, October 26, 2025
Trade Overview
Thailand is located in the lush lower Mekong River sub-Basin of Southeast Asia. It has an estimated standing population of over 71.67 million people and a current GDP of $526.41 billion.
It is considered an upper middle-income country by the International Trade Administration, and the second largest economy in ASEAN. Its key industries are manufacturing and tourism, with growing market potential in energy, aviation, and agriculture.
U.S. – Thailand Trade
In 2025, the U.S. exported $19.48 billion to Thailand, with oil & gas as the top export at $4.18 billion. Other exports included computer and electronic products ($3.42 billion), waste and scrap ($2.74 billion), transportation equipment ($1.85 billion), and chemicals ($1.52 billion). The U.S. is Thailand’s largest export market.
In this same year the United States imported approximately $91.34 billion from Thailand in 2025, a 44.2% increase from 2024’s $63.35 billion. Computer and electronic products accounting for over $49.22 billion of the total. Other top imports included electrical equipment, appliances, and components ($8.13 billion), non-electrical machinery ($6.29 billion), plastics and rubber products ($5.53 billion), and processed foods ($4.61 billion).
Services trade between Thailand and the U.S. totaled $7.8 billion in 2025, with exports totaling $3.77 billion. Top exports were financial services, other business services, travel, telecommunications, computer, & information services, and charges for intellectual property use.
Total services imports from Thailand to the U.S. totaled $4.04 billion, with top imports being travel, other business services, transports services, telecommunications, computer, & information services, and financial services.
California – Thailand Trade
In 2025, California exported $2.35 billion to Thailand. California’s top exports included computer and electronic products ($876 million), waste and scrap ($656 million), miscellaneous manufactures ($153 million), agricultural products ($134 million), and chemicals ($98 million). U.S. Department of Commerce
In 2025, California imported over $20.56 billion to Thailand. Primary imports were computer and electronics products ($10.79 billion), electrical appliances, equipment and components ($2.09 billion), processed foods ($1.65 billion), plastic and rubber products ($1.15 billion), and non-electrical machinery ($1.04 million). U.S. Department of Commerce
FDI – Thailand
Thai FDI in the U.S. totaled $877 million in 2024, while U.S. FDI in Thailand totaled $15.81 billion. Thai FDI supported 25,000-49,999 jobs in the U.S., contributed $280 million towards expanding U.S. exports, and $36 million in innovative research and development. The top industry sectors for Thai FDI in the U.S. are chemicals, plastics, software and IT services, food and beverages, auto components, and business services. Select USA
More Articles:
United States and Thailand Reaffirm Commitment to Expand Trade and Investment Ties
USTR, April 20, 2016
Thailand and California
According to the Thai American Chamber of Commerce in California, California is home to some 200,000 Thais, the largest Thai population outside of Thailand.
California is home to many Thai businesses, among them Thai Airways, Kasikorn Bank (Thailand’s second largest commercial bank), Krung Thai Bank and Chang Beer. Apart from the influence of these larger companies, aspects of Thai culture have found niche markets in America, from Spa and Massage services; Buddhist influenced beauty and health programs, and Thai boxing clubs. However, perhaps most famous in California is their food business. Los Angeles alone is home to about 700 Thai restaurants
Thai Town
Los Angeles is home to the only Thai Town in the world, having occupied a section of East Hollywood since 1999. Thai town is operated by the Thai Community Development Center, a non-profit organization created in 1994 with the expressed goals of creating “a thriving community by creating businesses and jobs, developing decent and affordable housing, and revitalizing public space”.
THAI Town in Los Angeles
Multi-Lateral Cooperation
Thailand’s Multi-Lateral Cooperation
Thailand is a member of several multi-lateral organizations which have increased Thailand’s presence both in the region and globally. They are currently a member of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the World Trade Organization (WTO), The Mekong River Commission, and the Greater Mekong Sub Region (an IGO created through the Asian Development Bank).
Through these organizations and bi-lateral relations with the United States, there has been increased development in Thailand’s infrastructure, as well as environmental impact analysis and studies for continued economic growth. The United States also pledged $187 million for the Lower Mekong Initiative, which “has the stated aim of improving education, health, infrastructure, and the environment in the region”. (Lee, John. “China’s Water Grab.” Foreign Policy)
The initiative was negotiated by U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, and the foreign ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. U.S. State Department
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
After 8 years of negotiations, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was signed on November 15, 2020. The RCEP is a free trade agreement (FTA) with 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states—Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam—and the five states with which ASEAN has existing FTAs—Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.
Please see the CalChamber’s RCEP page for more info.
RCEP – Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Text of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
Event
Thai Delegation Visits CalChamber
(May 22, 2012) A delegation, consisting of representatives of the Thai government and members of the Thai American Chamber of Commerce in California visited the CalChamber offices to discuss trade promotion.
