bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo
  1. Negotiations

US-Thailand


The US and Thailand started negotiations on a comprehensive bilateral free trade agreement in June 2004.

Like other recent bilateral free trade agreements with the US, the US-Thailand FTA will cover investment, services, government procurement, intellectual property, as well as agriculture. Many expect it to be modeled on the US-Singapore FTA.

The negotiations have attracted strong opposition and concern among many Thai social movements, farmers to people with HIV/AIDS. A broad civil society coalition, FTA Watch, was formed at the outset to closely monitor the process from a public interest perspective. (Likewise, business interests set up their own US-Thai FTA Coalition.) Under the banner of "sovereignty not for sale!", key issues of popular concern include access to medicine, GMOs in agriculture and patents on life.

The last round of talks took place in Chiang Mai in January 2006 with 10,000 people protesting in the streets and disrupting the meeting. Negotiations have not resumed since.

last update: May 2012

Foreign investors alarmed by FTAs
22-Sep-2004    
Foreign investors in Thailand are reconsidering their business plans in the Kingdom due to the spate of free-trade agreements the government is negotiating, representatives from European chambers of commerce said.
FTA talks with US on track, says Thai minister
22-Sep-2004    
Thailand's negotiations with the United States for a free trade agreement (FTA) are 'on track' despite delays, Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said here yesterday.
Thailand-US FTA: A roadmap to negotiations
18-Sep-2004    
The politicization of the U.S. trade policy process regarding free trade agreements has created a complex landscape requiring careful navigation by U.S. trading partners. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of contemporary U.S. trade policy and of obstacles and opportunities facing Thailand.
USCIB op-ed: Is Thailand ready for prime-time trade?
14-Sep-2004    
With a branding effort rivaling that of Tommy Hilfiger, Thailand prepared to receive delegates last weekend to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bangkok.
Thais lift ban on GMO planting, will regulate trials
24-Aug-2004    
Thailand has lifted a three-year ban on planting genetically modified organisms (GMOs) by allowing the crops to grow in open-field trials with non-GMO plants.
Thailand: Opposition to bilateral trade agreement grows strong
5-Aug-2004     Thailand: Opposition to Bilateral Trade Agreement Grows Strong
Trade and consumers' right activists who were at the forefront campaigning on FTA, called on the government to reveal all the terms and conditions of Tafta, voicing their grave concern that the local farm sector appear to be the losers while the winners are a handful of Thai big businessmen.
Thailand: Govt accused of lying about drugs in FTA Trade pact
30-Jul-2004     http://www.nationmultimedia.com/page.arcview.php3?clid=2&id=103194&date=2004-...
The government lied when it said it would exclude medicines from the list of products included under the prospective freetrade agreement between Thailand and the United States, a seminar was told yesterday.
Cheap HIV Drugs: Scepticism over Thaksin's pledge
12-Jul-2004    
Critics voiced doubt yesterday over Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's promise to provide equitable access to life-saving drugs for all people with HIV/Aids in Thailand, saying it was a pipe dream while disputes over patented drugs remain unresolved.
US-Thailand FTA opponents plan rally
12-Jul-2004    
A leading senator and civic groups are planning to hold a demonstration today against what they call the government's rush to conclude free-trade negotiations, which they say would have great ramifications on many people in the agricultural sector.
Thailand's free trade tactics under fire
8-Jul-2004     Thailand's free trade tactics under fire
Thailand's free-trade agreement (FTA) tactics are under fire for being opaque and shrouded in secrecy. Critics worry such methods are handing Thailand a poor deal, perhaps working to serve minority vested interests, and may even be undermining the informal social safety net provided by the country's agriculture.